Market situation and Amaplast data
An important part of the event was the presentation of economic analyses prepared by the Amaplast research centre. According to the data presented, the Italian sector of manufacturers of machinery, equipment and moulds for plastics and rubber processing ended 2025 with a production decline of around 5%, reaching a value of €4.4 billion. Exports, which account for around three quarters of production, also fell by around 5%, to just over €3.4 billion. At the same time, imports of technology increased by almost 24%, indicating continued domestic demand, partly supported by Industry 4.0 and 5.0 programmes. As a result, the sector’s trade surplus fell from a record €2.65 billion in 2024 to €2.24 billion.
Geopolitical challenges
Experts pointed out that 2025 was marked by numerous uncertainties. Among the key factors affecting the industry, they mentioned:
- the tariff policy of the US administration,
- higher tariffs on steel and aluminium,
- the weakening of the dollar against the euro,
- energy tensions linked to the situation in the Middle East,
- rising prices of gas, oil and raw materials,
- difficulties related to the implementation of the European PPWR regulations on packaging and packaging waste.
Particular concern was caused by the reduced willingness of companies to invest in the European market.
Export destinations
Export data showed a varied situation across individual markets. Sales declines were recorded in Germany and France, traditionally among Italy’s most important trading partners. At the same time, sales increased in Spain, Poland and Romania. The situation in the US market was also assessed positively, with exports of Italian technologies rising by almost 9%. Even greater potential was seen in India, where sales of Italian machinery have more than tripled over the past ten years.
Among product categories, declines were recorded in, among others, extruders, blow moulding machines, flexographic machines and moulds. Injection moulding machines, however, recorded sales growth. The Amaplast survey indicated that 54% of companies affiliated with the organisation ended the year with lower sales. Despite the difficulties, the industry managed to maintain employment, which increased by around 0.5%.
Jubilee exhibition “The Origins of Plast”
To mark the 20th edition, an exhibition dedicated to the history of the fair was prepared. In halls 13 and 15, photographs, posters and archival documents were presented, showing the development of the event since its first edition in 1964. It was recalled that the fair initially operated under the name Salone Europeo delle Materie Plastiche e della Gomma, bringing together around 800 exhibitors and several thousand visitors. In subsequent years, Plast developed dynamically, moving from a four-year to a three-year cycle.
The exhibition also presented the history of plastics development itself – from the popularisation of polyethylene and polypropylene, discovered by Nobel Prize winner Giulio Natta, to the growing importance of the machinery industry.
The exhibition also recalled the figure of Armando Testa, author of Plast’s visual identity from 1969. His iconic 1972 poster was included in the architecture and design collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
The exhibition also showed the development of technology over successive decades: the growing importance of injection moulding machines, the expansion of extrusion technology, the development of blow moulding machines and the increasingly wide use of plastics in automotive and construction applications.
Art & Plastics – where art meets industry
An unusual element of the fair was the Art & Plastics area, which presented plastics as a medium of artistic expression. Among the projects on display were:
- an exhibition by Lady Be, presenting 24 works made from recycled materials and interactive installations using artificial intelligence,
- an exhibition by Pina Inferrera, exploring the relationships between light, matter and perception,
- the project “Polimeri d'arte: Le Tavole d'Arte da mangiare”, combining contemporary art with reflection on the function and transience of materials,
- installations by Tommy Bonicelli, who, through his “ectoplastic aesthetic”, transformed everyday objects into symbols of memory and consumption.
These events showed that plastics can be not only an industrial material, but also a tool for artistic narrative and reflection on contemporary reality.
Summary
Plast 2026 once again confirmed its position as one of the most important events for the plastics and rubber industry in Europe. Despite unfavourable economic and geopolitical conditions, the fair brought together a large group of exhibitors and international visitors, becoming a place for presenting the latest technologies, exchanging knowledge and building business relations.
The rich conference programme, innovative thematic areas, jubilee historical exhibition and initiatives combining industry with art demonstrated the multidimensional character of today’s plastics and rubber industry. Plast 2026 not only summarised the current state of the sector, but also indicated directions for its further development, emphasising the importance of innovation, international cooperation and the ability to adapt to dynamically changing market conditions.
