Arabplast 2017 attracts industry innovators

The opening of Arabplast 2017 on January 8 reflects heightened  optimism as leading players and industry experts anticipate sustained growth momentum in the region's petrochemicals and plastics industry. The 2017 edition of ArabPlast is  about 18% bigger compared to the 2015 edition, and organizers are confident of a record turnout in terms of exhibitors participation and visitors registration. 

 

Arabplast is ranked as the biggest plastics, petrochemicals and rubber show in the Middle East. The 2015 edition gathered 906 exhibitors from 41 countries and 27,268 trade visitors from 119 countries. 

According to Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, "Arabplast provides a platform for the main players in this industry to showcase their products and to exchange expertise and best knowledge."

 

Participation from international companies has also been recognized as foreign companies come in full force to present their innovative products.  For the 2017 edition, there are 110 companies from India, 95 exhibitors Taiwan and 70 from Germany, while China is represented by 175 exhibitors.  

 

Borouge is the principal sponsor of ArabPlast, while Tasnee is platinum sponsor. Other leading companies in the Middle East include NatPet from Saudi Arabia, Orpic from Oman and Munyajat from Qatar.  

 

 

Sustained growth of the petrochemicals and plastics industry in the GCC has been widely anticipated. The  latest report by the Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association (GPCA) titled “Facts and Figures” released in November 2016 showed that  the petrochemicals and chemical industry in the GCC reached production capacity of 144.6 million tons in 2015, more than double its levels in 2005. The GCC chemical industry is a major employer in the region with a workforce of close to 143,000 people. The most  significant growth was that of the local petrochemical consumption which increased by 10% annually, indicating the industry's promising prospects in the years to come.  Plastic production in the GCC  is expected to expand by about 3% until the end of the decade, according to a GPCA study.  

 

ArabPlast 2017 showcases a wide range of products and technologies in injection molding, blow molding, packaging, pre- and post-plastic processing techniques as well as raw materials, such as additives and polymers.