The international importance of the world’s second largest plastics fair – the most important in Asia – is becoming increasingly evident. This year, “Chinaplas” (www.chinaplasonline.com) drew 130,370 visitors to Shanghai, about 18.6% more than came to the comparable event two years ago. Taking last year’s fair in Guangzhou into account, this year’s event saw visitor numbers rise by 14%, fair organiser Adsale Exhibition Services (Hong Kong / China; www.adsale.com.hk) reports. The share of international visitors to the four-day event also rose. While foreign attendees accounted for 26% of all visitors to Chinaplas 2012, they made up roughly 27% last year. This year’s tally came to 28%, Adsale reports.

With its focus on the latest machinery and feedstock trends, while also affording an overview of the Chinese plastics market, Chinaplas has become an integral part of today’s global plastics landscape, and it has become virtually impossible to imagine a world without it. Speaking to Plasteurope.com, Thorsten Kühmann, managing director of the German association for plastics and rubber machinery, VDMA Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen (KuG, Frankfurt; http://kug.vdma.org), said that the importance of the Chinese market to German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers is reflected by the fact that more than 150 exhibitors were part of this year’s German pavilion. Although the country’s economic growth has slowed somewhat in the past two years, Kühmann said that German exhibitors feel this has not affected the higher-quality market segment. Echoing the statements of Adsale chairman Stanley Chu – see Plasteurope.com of 23.04.2014 – Kühmann said energy-efficiency has become increasingly important in China, not just because the government has taken up the cause, but also because local firms are trying to cut their costs as well.

The importance of China has become an integral part of our operations at PIE, too. Aside from our regular China polymer price reports, we have also been working closely together with Chinaplas organiser Adsale for the past two years, bringing visitors to the fair and co-organising exclusive conferences and speakers. This year our collaboration focused on the “Green Conference”, addressing matters of recycling and moulding. More than 250 visitors attended the first day, with a similar number attending day two of the lecture series.

Far from sitting on their laurels, even before this year’s fair came to a close, Adsale was already exploring opportunities for next year’s Chinaplas, held in Guangzhou. Although nothing is written in stone – in such an exciting and innovative market it never could be – one thing is certain: Next year’s mega fair is sure to set new records once again.