Chinaplas 2026, described as the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries, will take place on April 21–24, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Hongqiao, in Shanghai. The exhibition area will exceed 390,000 sqm, and the number of exhibitors from China and abroad is expected to surpass 5,000. The organizers indicate that this will be a record-breaking edition of the event, confirming its position as one of the most important annual meetings for the plastics and rubber sectors. This year’s edition is set to focus on four main areas, the circular economy, digitalization, innovative materials, and advanced technologies developed in China. In this format, the exhibition is intended to combine material solutions, machinery, processing technologies, and digital tools, showing development directions linked to automation, reduced environmental impact, and higher production efficiency.
According to the announcement, the fair will bring together both global chemical groups and machinery manufacturers, as well as a large group of Chinese companies with specialized business profiles. Confirmed exhibitors include BASF, SABIC, ExxonMobil, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Formosa Plastics, Covestro, Lotte Chemical, Toray, Evonik, Borouge, Sinopec, PetroChina, Wanhua, Kingfa, Sinochem, Rongsheng, Hengli, Wote, Kumho-Sunny, Intco, Arburg, Engel, Husky, KraussMaffei, Mold-Masters, Synventive, Battenfeld-cincinnati, Totani, HP, Nordson, Scantech, Tomra, Avian, Asano, Haitian, Yizumi, Chen Hsong, Borch, Fu Chun Shin, L.K. Technology, Tederic, Kaihua, Push Die & Mold, Jwell, Sinomech, Shaanxi Beiren, Jctimes, Useon and Aceretech. Particular attention is drawn to the presence of more than 1,000 specialized and niche Chinese enterprises, including nearly 200 companies classified in the national “Little Giant” category. As stated, this will be the largest collective presentation of this group of companies in the history of the fair. These companies are expected to strengthen China’s position in global supply chains through their own R&D capabilities, developed manufacturing base, and international networks of plants, offices, and distributors.
Exhibition scope, from machinery to specialty materials
The exhibition has been divided into 17 theme zones. In the section dedicated to machinery and equipment, more than 3,800 machines are scheduled to be shown in live demonstrations. The scope includes injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, plastics packaging technologies, rubber processing machinery, dies and moulds, auxiliary equipment, and testing instruments. Reifenhäuser is set to present its third-generation EVO blown film line, which according to the announcement provides up to 30% higher productivity thanks to rapid restart, advanced connectivity, and a digital architecture prepared for further development. Photon Cloud will present inspection technology based on machine vision, implemented in real medical product manufacturing processes. The solution is intended for applications including the detection of impurities inside bottles, closure quality control, and identification of missing tablets in blister packs, replacing human visual inspection and supporting productivity and quality.
In the raw materials zones, more than 1,900 suppliers of chemicals and materials are expected to participate. The range will include commodity and engineering plastics, pigments and masterbatches, additives, composites and specialty materials, elastomers and rubber, bioplastics, recyclates, and other new material solutions. LG Chem has developed biaxially oriented polyethylene BOPE film, redesigned at the level of the polymer crystallization structure, which is intended to provide high stiffness and transparency even in a mono-material structure, facilitating packaging recycling. Orinko is announcing the launch of long-chain nylon-based materials for drone shells and key components, which are intended to reduce weight while maintaining structural rigidity, thereby improving operating endurance.
Digitalization, artificial intelligence and new materials
The organizers present Chinaplas 2026 as a platform concentrating the so-called new productive forces in the plastics and rubber industries. In practice, this means combining higher-performance materials with digitalization, intelligent control, and artificial intelligence applications in processing. The fair is set to widely showcase high-performance composite fibers, specialty engineering plastics, and thermoplastic elastomers designed for automotive, new energy, humanoid robots, drones, and aerospace applications. The desired properties listed include efficient heat dissipation, halogen-free flame retardancy, lightweighting, and high rigidity. BASF will present materials for solid-state battery packs intended to support vehicle lightweighting and optimized thermal management. Covestro will showcase polycarbonate solutions for humanoid robots, enabling mobility and resistance to complex mechanical interactions during operation.
An important part of the exhibition will also be the integration of traditional processing machinery with digital tools, intelligent management systems, and AI. According to the announcements, these solutions are intended to increase process productivity and accuracy, reduce labor input, cut operating time, lower energy consumption, and reduce environmental impact. AI is expected to support the modernization of plastics processing equipment, enabling the manufacture of more complex products with high performance characteristics while maintaining production flexibility. Examples mentioned include Chen Hsong’s iChen Cloud Intelligent Manufacturing Operation and Management Platform and Jc Times’ integrated Intelligent Precision Die.
Circular economy and low-carbon solutions
One of the event’s main thematic blocks will be the circular economy. The organizers emphasize that low-carbon development and green transformation have ceased to be optional directions for development and have become necessities for the industry. In the dedicated Recycling Tech Zone, more than 120 suppliers from around the world are expected to showcase solutions in mechanical recycling, AI-assisted sorting, and closed-loop systems for high-value recycling of plastic waste. On the second floor of the venue, in the raw materials zones, particularly the Bioplastics Zone and Recycled Plastics Zone, biodegradable materials, post-consumer resins produced through chemical recycling, and low-carbon modified materials will be presented.
According to the announcement, the latest recyclates are expected to offer higher cleanliness, lower odor residue, and better surface quality, approaching the properties of virgin materials. This is intended to open the way for applications in various segments, including food packaging. Exhibitors are also expected to present traceable and compliant closed-loop materials for automotive applications. The three pillars of the solutions presented in this area are identified as closed loop, carbon reduction, and value creation. The exhibition program will include both improved mechanical and chemical recycling technologies, as well as high-performance bio-based materials, recyclates for multiple applications, and a broad range of solutions for low-carbon manufacturing. Avient has developed bio-based thermoplastic elastomers containing 40–50% renewable feedstock derived from sugarcane, which is intended to reduce carbon footprint at the source. These materials, with properties comparable to conventional TPEs and with the possibility of recycling production waste, are used in consumer goods, automotive, consumer electronics, cosmetics packaging, and personal care packaging, among others. Tomra will present the AUTOSORT system, an intelligent sorting machine based on optical techniques and AI elements. Using near-infrared and visible-light detection, the system enables fast and precise recognition and separation of materials by type and color, making it possible to obtain high-purity PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE, PE, and PC fractions from mixed waste streams.
Cost reduction and improved production efficiency
Against the backdrop of raw material price volatility and supply chain instability, the exhibition is also set to emphasize solutions supporting energy savings, cost reduction, and improved efficiency. Announced solutions include integrated automation systems simplifying production processes and reducing labor costs, modular machine designs increasing line flexibility, and solutions related to lightweight structures, internet- and AI-based optimization of materials and processes, as well as real-time monitoring of quality and energy consumption. The aim of these solutions is to improve the profitability of processing plants and provide better predictability of investment outcomes.
Haitian will present an automated injection molding solution for drone blades, which according to the announcement increases production efficiency by more than 30%, completely eliminates assembly labor, and maintains dimensional deviation within ±0.05 mm. The system uses high-speed injection at 800 mm/s and an air-floating rotary table ensuring stable switching of workstations. Arburg is announcing the launch of the Golden Edition Evo electric machine, which is intended to shorten dry cycle time by 2 seconds compared with standard hydraulic machines, reduce energy demand to 50% of the level of hydraulic machines, and ensure high repeatability and product quality through servo-electric positioning.
The event’s growing international reach
According to the organizers, along with the recovery in the momentum of China’s foreign trade, the international reach of Chinaplas 2026 is also expanding. Professional visitors from more than 140 countries and regions are expected, along with more than 430 buyer delegations, including over 70 overseas groups. Compared with the previous edition, new delegations from Egypt, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, and Poland are expected to join, further broadening the scope of international exchange.
In this context, Chinaplas 2026 is intended to serve as a global platform for direct business negotiations, technical exchange, project cooperation, and supply chain optimization. The organizers emphasize that the event is intended to support the stability of global supply chains in the plastics and rubber industries and deepen cooperation between Chinese and international companies.
