The four-day CHINAPLAS 2026 concluded on April 24 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China. This premier annual event of the global plastics and rubber industries set a new record, with an exhibition area of 400,000 sqm, 5.104 high-quality local and overseas exhibitors, and 350.189 professional visitors. The event fully demonstrated the strong resilience and innovativeness vitality of plastics and rubber supply chain, uniting global innovation on a world stage.
Exhibitors were 5.104 coming from 45 countries and regions, with a 10.57% increase compared to 2025 Shenzhen exhibition; visitors arrived from 188 countries and regions, marking a 24.53% increase compared to 2025 Shenzhen exhibition. Overseas visitors accounted for 24.68%, 26.11% more if compared to 2025 Shenzhen exhibition. Over 3.800 sets of machinery exhibits featured live demonstration, more than 1.900 raw material suppliers assembled and over 350 exhibitors brought their global or Asian debut technologies.
“When I navigated the 16 exhibition halls, I observed that CHINAPLAS has reached a world-class standard. I saw the passion of the visitors, the diverse exhibits, the enthusiastic exchanges between exhibitors and visitors, the rising status of Chinese technology suppliers on the world stage, and the growing global recognition of China as one of the important future driving engines for the plastics and rubber industries”, said Ada Leung, General Manager of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., the organizer of the exhibition.
Accelerating technological progress to high-quality industry development
Under the theme “Transformation · Collaboration · Sustainability”, the exhibition focused on four key areas, namely “Circular Economy,” “Digitalization,” “Innovative Materials,” and “China’s High-end Technologies”. Among the exhibited technologies state-of-the-art industrial machinery, including high-end injection molding machines, highly versatile blown film production lines, smart and efficient extrusion systems, as well as blow molding and thermoforming equipment. These machines can be widely adapted to application scenarios across automotive, electronics and electric, packaging, medical, and many other industries.
In response to the pressing demand for AI transformation across the plastics and rubber industries, innovative solutions continuously emerged, such as equipping injection molding machines with a cognitive “smart brain”, the collaborative operation of intelligent injection molding and humanoid robots, and intelligent recycling sorting equipment. Exhibitors launched new plastics and rubber materials and advanced processing technologies like long carbon-chain nylon materials, high-performance carbon fiber reinforced composites, polyurethane (PU) potting foams and PEEK.
“The Power of Plastics Forum”, “Additives Seminar: Enhancing Sustainability and the Values of Plastics”, “Tech Talk”, “Medical Plastics Connect”, “InnoAccelerate” and “Applications in Focus,” addressed core industry topics.
Elevating exhibition value to amplify industrial chain synergy
CHINAPLAS 2026 has not only significantly boosted confidence across the plastics and rubber industries, but also clearly demonstrated the value of diversification of the exhibition, that evolved from a traditional trade-matching exhibition into a hub of comprehensive and collaborative innovation for the industry, for exhibitors and visitors. The 16 exhibition halls saw a continuous high-density foot traffic as exhibitors eagerly welcomed visitors from all over the world and the event yielded fruitful results.
Phoebe Tsang, Head of Communications, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. said that “since joining the very first CHINAPLAS in 1983, BASF has been a steadfast supporter of this key industry event, the exhibition has evolved into a leading platform for innovation and exchange across the global plastics industry. For us it is important to pursue innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth across the value chain”.
CHINAPLAS is held alternately in Shenzhen in odd years and Shanghai in even years. The next exhibition will take place at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao’an), PR China from April 13 to 16, 2027.
