Page 9 - Plastics News November 2019

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

More The Merrier

he recently concluded K 2019 - the global trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry,
Twas one of the good learning especially for the Indian industry. Plastics continue to be an
innovative, indispensable material. But the presence of over 3,330 exhibitors from 63 nations
also unanimously underscored the necessity of having operational circular economies along
the complete material chain and to this end already presented numerous concrete solutions.
Companies struck a nerve with people with this focus for most of the visitors took great interest
especially in recycling systems, sustainable raw materials, resource-saving processes. The
intention among the international trade audience to get perfectly geared up for the future
with the latest technologies was clearly perceivable. Machinery and equipment manufacturing,
was the biggest segment at K 2019 with over 1,975 exhibitors , and as a visitor each of us
had interest specially in extruders and extrusion lines, injection moulding machines as well
as machinery and equipment for reclamation and recycling. While KraussMaffei presented a
closed material and production circuit involving extrusion and injection moulding machinery
at one end 'Circular' economy was the hot topic of the discussion as well.
Back home India's plastic exports have declined by six percent in the first six months of the
current fiscal. According to statistics from Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL), Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
exports during April-September topped $4.32 billion, compared to $4.59 billion in the same
period in the last financial year, down 5.9 percent perhaps following a dip in shipments to
China and Pakistan. The decline is due to a 19 percent dip in export of plastics raw materials
from $2.23 billion to $1.8 billion particularly to China, India's biggest market. Most of us
would agree to that fact the trade war between the US and China has actually created a
very serious impact for India's plastics exports in 2018-19 were $10.89 billion, up 24 percent
from previous year's figure of $8.85 billion. Also India's Plastics exports to Pakistan were
$165 million in the first six months of the last fiscal, but that figure has slumped to a mere
$one million in April-September period of the current financial year due to strained relations
between the two countries.

Ideally, India should have been using the trade tension between US and China to its advantage
far more but it did not happen.Perhaps with a focus on 'finished products' one could still hope for
the increase in manufactured exports or value added exports that could aid the manufacturing
sector as well. Fortunately India's Plastics industry is seeing growth opportunities in the US
market, particularly in the Packaging field, thanks to the sanctions imposed on various Chinese
goods. One could see very good potential in the US market.
Hope fully we are able to have a larger pie.

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 November 2019 Plastics News