After the plastics and rubber trade fair “Chinaplas 2020” (www.chinaplasonline.com) was first postponed to August 2020 and then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (see Plasteurope.com of 24.04.2020), “Chinaplas 2021” is now scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, Guangdong / China from 13 to 16 April 2021.

While the dates for the event were released in June 2020 (see Plasteurope.com of 25.06.2020), the most recent news is that visitors and exhibitors can attend Chinaplast 2021, which is running under the motto “New Era, New Potential, Innovation for Sustainability”. The fair is set to occupy 16 halls of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center with the expected participation of more than 3,600 exhibitors from 10 countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Taiwan).

Following the coronavirus pandemic, China’s economy has reportedly recovered strongly. After a sharp V-shaped move in the first half of 2020, GDP expanded 4.9% in the third quarter. Adsale (Hong Kong; www.adsale.com.hk) said Chinese retail sales of consumer goods grew at a nominal annual rate growth of 3.3% to CNY 3.5 tn (EUR 438 bn), while exports were up 10.2% to CNY 5 tn in Q3.

As in other parts of the world, China has seen recent growth in plastics demand in the sectors of healthcare, smart-tech, eco-friendliness, convenience and personal comfort. The sales and exports of household products like kitchen appliances and fitness equipment have also risen. Demand for fresh-food distribution, express delivery and convenience food products have also increased, while the overall focus has shifted to innovation for sustainability, according to Adsale.