Officials of Messe Düsseldorf Germany and Al Fajer Information and Services, co-organizers of Arabplast 2013, during a press conference Sunday in Dubai on the eve of Arabplast 2013.JEDDAH – The world will consume 540 million tons of plastic in 2020, according to the organizers of the four-day Arabplast 2013 – the Middle East's premier trade show for rubber, plastics and petrochemicals – that will open today (Jan. 7) at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The figure was only 7 million tons in 1960, 196 million tons in 2005 and 260 million tons in 2007 and is expected to cross 365 million tons in 2015. Messe Düsseldorf Germany and Al Fajer Information and Services, co-organizers of Arabplast 2013, said at a press conference Sunday in Dubai that the Gulf's consumption will cross 8 percent by 2020, compared to 25 percent by Europe and NAFTA countries, and 37 percent in Asian and Oceanic countries. Organizers emphasized that with the rapidly increasing per capita consumption of plastics in the Gulf, the GCC states should plan for higher production domestically, taking advantage of abundance of petrochemicals materials, the primary raw material for plastics. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, described Arabplast as No. 1 show in the world for value of onsite machines displayed and in the sales volumes of raw materials. Khanna pointed out that in 2011, over 156 containers of machines were off-loaded at the Arabplast venue, and 154 containers of machines were sold and routed to differing countries in the region. He added that Arabplast is ranked as number one show in the region and number four in the world in plastics and petrochemicals. Khanna added that Arabplast 2013 will be 34 percent bigger than the 2011 edition, following record number of exhibitors and sponsors. A record number of 900 companies from 41 countries are participating in Arabplast 2013, a reflection on the growing importance attached by GCC countries to strengthening their manufacturing industries, including plastics and rubber sector. Arabplast 2013 is expected to be visited by more than 26000 trade visitors from 110 countries. On display at Arabplast 2013 are new products and technologies in injection molding, blow molding, wrapping and packaging, pre and post plastic processing techniques as well as raw materials, such as additives and polymers. The show covers a wide spectrum of plastic machinery, plastic/rubber processing technology, pre and post-processing systems, plastic packaging technology, injection molding, blow molding, wrapping technology, extrusions, chemicals and additives, semi finished goods, engineering plastics and plastic products. Companies from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, KSA, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, UK, US and Vietnam are participating in the show. Khanna said Arabplast 2013 will showcase latest technologies and track market trends of the Middle East plastics and rubber industry, which continues to be the world's largest exporter, offloading the majority of its output to international markets. — SG
