Chinaplas 2024 Post Show Report

Published: Wednesday, 29 April 2024 | Authors: Stephen Hunt and Justyna Elliott, BPF

Chinaplas 2024 took place 23-26 April 2024 in Shanghai, China and attracted a record breaking 321,879 visitors - thereby becoming the first plastics show to ever attract over 300,000 visitors.

The show took place in the Shanghai National Exhibition & Conference Center, which is the largest trade show halls in the world. The second largest being the Shenzhen halls where Chinaplas 2025 will take place.

Chinaplas 2024 marked the first time the show had taken place in Shanghai since 2018 (due to the pandemic) and the four day show occupied all 15 halls and had a total exhibition area of over 380,000sqm, a 12% increase since the last show in Shanghai and featured 4,420 exhibitors. The last show in 2023 featured 3,900 exhibitors.

At the show the BPF organised the British Pavilion, which was one of nine international pavilions at the exhibition (the others being Austria, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, USA and Taiwan).

Visitors to Chinaplas 2001-2024

Chinaplas Show Visitors 2001 to 2024

Location	Date	Gross Area	Net Area	Exhibitors
Shanghai	April 23-26, 2024	380,000 sqm	n.a.	4,420
Shenzhen	April 17-20, 2023	380,000 sqm	n.a.	3,905
Shenzhen	April 13-16, 2021	350,000 sqm	n.a.	3,600
Guangzhou	May 21-24, 2019	260,000 sqm	140,000 sqm	3,624
Shanghai	April 24-27, 2018	340,000 sqm	153,000 sqm	3,948
Guangzhou	May 16-19, 2017	250,000 sqm	134,000 sqm	3,485
Shanghai	April 25-28, 2016	240,000 sqm	134,409 sqm	3,340
Guangzhou	May 20-23, 2015	240,000 sqm	127,458 sqm	3,282
Shanghai	April 23-26, 2014	230,000 sqm	120,000 sqm	3,067
Guangzhou	May 20-23, 2013	220,000 sqm	116,000 sqm	2,972
Shanghai	April 18-21, 2012	210,000 sqm	110,000 sqm	2,700
Guangzhou	May 17-20, 2011	180,000 sqm	100,000 sqm	2,450

The breakdown of visitors at Chinaplas 2024 per day...

	Total Visitors	Local Visitors	Overseas Visitors
Day 1	93,241	73,831	19,380 【20.78%】
Day 2	118,687	93,825	24,862【20.95%】
Day 3	81,662	61,595	20,067【24.57%】
Day 4	28,289	19,934	8,895【31.44%】
TOTAL	321,879	248,675	73,204 [22.74%]

The number of international visitors in 2024 was considerably higher than the previous edition as China only opened the borders in January 2023, so few international visitors could make the trip that year. In 2023 only 11% of all visitors were from overseas - Chinaplas 2024 saw this percentage double.

British Pavilion

The British Pavilion coordinated by the BPF was located in Hall 2.1, which was the International Hall. British Pavilion exhibitors:

British Exhibitors Chinaplas 2024

In addition to the British Pavilion, the BPF also co-ordinated a 'Mission to China'. The mission which was kindly sponsored by currency exhange and international payments specialist - TorFX included delegates from:

At the show, the BPF distributed a guide lisitng not only the UK exhibitors and the mission delegates, but also to all BPF members - the electronic version of the booklet (also in Simplified Chinese) can be downloaded here

What the exhibitors thought...

“This is the first time Biocote have exhibited at Chinaplas. We found the show to be genuinely breathtaking in terms of reach and range. Not just for China, but for other Asian countries. We have had visitors from India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan to name but a few.

We are very confident of potential partnerships with a local agent we met at the show. Also we met potential suppliers at the DBT evening event and are also looking at pursueing a FX contract as a result of the trip!"
David Hall, Managing Director, Biocote

“MSA last attended Chinaplas before the pandemic. Chinaplas 2024 has been a very positive exhibition, with many good contacts made in China and from other international visitors interested in our patented Wire Laying systems for the production of thermoplastic electrofusion pipe fittings. Potential opportunities have arisen in countries such as Malaysia, India, Algeria, Turkey, Eastern Europe and of course China itself.
Even though MSA have representation in China it is important to be present at Chinaplas for valuable technical and sales discussions with existing and prospective clients.
Overall the exhibition was encouraging and we hope to convert sales in the coming months."
Morgan Jones, MSA Engineering Systems

Networking Dinner on the 23rd April

After the first day of Chinaplas, the excellent team at the UK's Department for International Trade (DBT) in China organised a networking dinner. The dinner featured 30 British and 70 Chinese delegates.

Evening Reception at Chinaplas 2024
Pic. British delegates at the dinner organised by the UK's Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

All British companies were invited to give a short overview of their companies activities and explained what they were trying to achieve in the market. The Deputy Director-Innovation and Industry at the Consulate-General Guanzhou, Trevor Lewis gave a welcome speech, followed by the BPF Director General, Philip Law.

Law said that 'the Chinese market is best approached on a long-term perspective. Personal contacts must be cultivated year on year over a long period of time. The BPF have been exhibiting in China since 1983 (the year of the first ever Chinaplas) and over this time has itself established close links with Adsale the Chinaplas orgianiser., enabling the BPF o punch above its weight at the show.'

Green Plastics: Mobilising the Industry Towards Circular Economy Seminar

During the show the BPF worked with the DBT to put on a seminar, which featured a number of British speakers including the BPF's Director General, Philip Law, who provided a speech outlining the strengths of the UK plastics industry and some of its leading innovations in circularity. He explained how to access the UK plastics industry through the NPF, via its website, its events and publications.

Philip Law Presenting at Chinaplas 2024
Pic. BPF's Director General, Philip Law presents at the Green Plastics: Mobilising the Industry Towards Circular Economy Seminar

Stronger Together

The BPF's Mission to China, sponsored by TorFX, was a great sucess, especially for thse who have never been to China before. The Mission programme included a VIP pass to Chinaplas, two networking dinners and 3-nights accommodation in the group hotel.

Ten Mission delegates came to the show geared up with a set of objectives and a list of companies to meet. They walked tens of thusands of steps, spent days on their feet and met numerous contacts at the exhibition, to make the most of the market visit.

They also bonded on a personal level and continued the dialogue in Shangahi after the exhibition hours. The BPF team was there to support the participants with a pre-market visit Teams call to set up a WeChat app, so we could all communicate on the ground. The group chat was extremely useful and the Mission delegates formed solid links and some are likely to do business amongst each other as a result of the event.

“Possibly the best trip to a foreign show I have ever had… The organisation, the hospitality, the social aspect and of course the business connections were superb. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome and involved.”
Mark Harrison, Bamberger Polymers

"Thank you for the effort and organisation that went into the BPF Mission to Chinaplas. The event was excellent! Also the two dinners, hosted by the DBT China and the BPF were very useful for networking. It was a really good group, and the atmosphere was great."
James Parton, Haitian UK / Premier Moulding Machinery Limited

Pic. BPF Mission to China delegates enjoy a hot pot dinner after the exhibition

"As an Associate Member, it was a pleasure for TorFX to sponsor the BPF Mission to Chinaplas this year and to join the delegates at the exhibition for the week in Shanghai.
Having previously worked in the plastics industry for 12 years and in the chemicals and polymers sector for 7 years before that, it was good to have the opportunity to spend time with the delegate group and to see the latest plastics innovations and advances in technology first hand.
TorFX helps thousands of companies make significant savings on their currency transfers when they are making or receiving international payments for finished products, machinery, tooling, components, materials and services. So it was a natural fit for us to support the Mission in 2024."
Paul Warrilow, TorFX

Chinese Plastics Industry

China continues to be both the worlds biggest producer and the worlds biggest consumer of polymer. China exports of raw material are growing year on year and according to the China National Chemical Information Centre the 'average annual export growth rate was as high as 72.8%, of which PP and PVC achieved record growth'. Around one third of all polymer produced globally originates from China...

Source: Conversio; nova-Institute; PlasticsEurope (PEMRG)

China is also the world's biggest producer of machinery for plastics processing. According to the China Plastics Machinery Industry Association in 2023 China exported US$7.4bn of plastics machinery - an annual increase of 8%. Injection moulding machinery was the biggest percentage with US$1.7bn being exported - up 7% on the year before. In addition to the export of injection moulding machinery, extruders, blow moulding machines and plastics calendaring machines were also recording record annual growth.

A number of exhibitors at the show reported that the market continues to be slow in terms of domestic demand for plastic production.