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CHINAPLAS 2026: Harnessing the “15th Five-Year Plan” to Usher in a New Era of Plastics and Rubber Innovation |
| Publish date: 2026-02-06 |
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As China embarks on the first year of its “15th Five-Year Plan,” a dynamic blueprint for innovation and high-quality development in the plastics and rubber industries is set to unfold at CHINAPLAS 2026. The Plan emphasizes cultivating emerging and future industries, expanding high-level openness, and advancing intelligent, green, and integrated development. These priorities provide fertile ground for the plastics and rubber industries and anchor the exhibition’s strategic focus.
Spanning over 390,000 sqm, CHINAPLAS 2026 will serve as a “Living Laboratory” of policy implementation and industry transformation. Under the theme “Transformation · Collaboration · Sustainability”, the exhibition will take place from April 21 to 24, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China, empowering the industry to capitalize on new opportunities amid times of change.   Emerging Industries Drive New Growth Frontiers “The Recommendations of the 15th Five-Year Plan” highlights strategic clusters in new energy, advanced materials, aerospace, and low-altitude economy, alongside breakthroughs in quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy, fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and 6G communications. These emerging fields are rapidly expanding the application boundaries of plastics and rubber, unlocking new growth frontiers for this fundamental pillar of manufacturing.     New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) In 2025, China produced 16.6 million and sold 16.5 million New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), maintaining global leadership for 11 consecutive years with year‑on‑year growth of 29% in production and 28.2% in sales. New generations of material solutions for batteries, charging infrastructure, and drive systems are emerging. Rianlon’s advanced polymer antioxidants effectively extend the service life of battery systems and charging equipment under extreme conditions. DOMO’s high‑purity engineering plastics, TECHNYL® PURE, with outstanding electrical insulation and chemical resistance, are well suited for high‑voltage environments. Low‑altitude Economy (LAE) In 2026, the low‑altitude economy (LAE) is entering a triple boom of policy, technology, and market demand. With logistics, tourism, and emergency rescue driving demand, plastics and composites are becoming strategically vital for this trillion-RMB market. Covestro’s high‑CTI polycarbonate (PC) delivers reliable performance and safety in harsh electrical environments, ensuring stable operations of electric Vertical Take‑off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Kingfa’s KingPan® flame retardant composite panels, with high glass‑fiber content and V‑0 flame retardancy, can withstand 1,200°C fire exposure for 30 minutes without dripping, and self‑extinguish within 10 seconds of flame removal, making them suitable for critical eVTOL components. Commercial Aerospace Commercial aerospace is experiencing explosive growth, creating enormous demand for materials and equipment. By December 2025, China submitted plans to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the deployment of more than 200,000 satellites, marking a substantial acceleration in the construction of China’s low‑orbit satellite internet. Carbon‑fiber reinforced nylon composites with lightweight and high strength properties have become an innovative choice for satellite brackets. PEEK and PEKK offer outstanding high‑temperature, radiation, and chemical resistance, making them suitable for satellite structural components, cable insulation layers, and engine seals. Phenolic resins, with high char yield and excellent processability, are used in commercial solid rocket nozzles. Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP), with low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and excellent high‑temperature performance, have become key materials for high‑frequency satellite communication components. Syensqo's lightweight composite materials can replace metals in aerospace structures. Its prepreg and MTM46 epoxy resin system developed for extreme environments, such as space missions, this material delivers stiffness, impact resistance and thermal performance that surpasses metal alternatives. Payload fairings produced with this material can be around 30% lighter than metal equivalents, enabling lower fuel consumption, higher payload capacity and reduced manufacturing cost. Humanoid Robotics 2025 marked the first year of mass production for humanoid robots, and 2026 is a critical turning point toward scaled deployment and accelerated commercialization. Humanoid robots are rapidly evolving from “performing on stage” and “competing in arenas” to “serving in households” and “working in factories.” IDC forecasts that in 2025, China’s spending on embodied intelligent robots exceeded USD 1.4 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 94% over the next five years. In this blue ocean market, breakthroughs in material technologies are the core enabler of scaled adoption, with plastics and rubber playing an indispensable role. Specialty engineering plastics such as PEEK and PPS, with high strength, low density, wear resistance, and self‑lubricating properties, are increasingly replacing metals in robot joints, gears, and bearings. TPEs are used in flexible components such as artificial muscles and artificial skin. Lushan New Materials has launched a new generation of bimodal electronic skin products, capable of precisely detecting subtle forces such as light touches and pulses. Dawn Group has developed ultra‑soft artificial muscle TPEs with a Shore hardness of 0A, offering exceptional softness, elasticity, and a dry, non‑sticky surface feel, making them suitable for core components such as robotic joint actuators. CHINAPLAS 2026 will gather more than 4,600 leading global exhibitors, actively responding to market demand while showcasing cutting‑edge technologies, diverse application scenarios and strong industry vitality. The exhibition will serve as an efficient bridge connecting traditional industry upgrades, emerging industry expansion, and future industry development.   Intelligent Upgrades and Green Transformation The “15th Five‑Year Plan” calls for the comprehensive implementation of the “AI+” initiative, aiming to seize the commanding heights of AI applications and empower industries across the spectrum. At the very start of 2026, a series of policy measures were introduced nationwide, accelerating innovation in the integration of “AI+ manufacturing”. From industrial chain collaboration and upgrading to precise empowerment of SMEs, AI technologies are now being fully embedded across all aspects of the manufacturing sector. Addressing the inefficiencies and low fault‑tolerance of traditional manual quality inspection, AI technologies are now delivering a breakthrough solution, which precisely detecting micron‑level defects while continuously learning and iterating inspection standards, ensuring that even the smallest flaws are exposed. Good Vision & Motion will showcase a high‑speed quality inspection system at CHINAPLAS 2026. Combining advanced vision technology with AI algorithms, it enables real‑time quality monitoring and defect detection on high‑speed production lines, completing comprehensive product evaluations within milliseconds. Jeenar will present its AI valve‑bag inspection system, which detects and eliminates defects during production, reducing labor costs and improving product stability. ENGEL has introduced injectAI, an iQ process observer system equipped with AI that can automatically analyze more than 1,000 parameters in real time, accurately identifying production deviations and providing optimization suggestions. The Plan also emphasizes accelerating a comprehensive green transformation. The plastics and rubber industries, as a vital part of manufacturing, are driving circular development through innovation, building an infinite loop ecosystem of “production–use–recycling–regeneration,” turning waste into a new starting point for the circular economy. BASF, in collaboration with Porsche and BSR, completed the world’s first pilot project for recycling mixed end‑of‑life vehicle waste. Using gasification technology, complex residues (including plastics, films, paints, and foams, which were traditionally managed through thermal recovery methods) were converted into syngas and derivatives, which replaced fossil feedstocks in BASF’s integrated value chain to produce polyurethane formulations for new car steering wheels, achieving a closed loop of “scrap parts → raw materials → new parts”. Boretech has developed three customized “rebirth solutions” — glycolysis, microwave alcoholysis, and solvent processes — targeting PET, PP, PE, and composite/dyed plastics. These establish efficient chemical recycling systems that transform waste plastics into high‑quality recycled raw materials. Recycled plastics, bio‑based and degradable materials, recycling technologies, digital solutions, and energy‑efficient equipment will be the highlights of CHINAPLAS 2026, with live demonstrations bringing the intelligent and green vision of the “15th Five‑Year Plan” into reality.     Expanding High-Level Openness: A Global Meeting Place 2026 marks the opening year of the “15th Five‑Year Plan” and a pivotal year for China to demonstrate resilience and vitality amid complex global economic conditions. The Plan underscores expanding high‑level openness, promoting two‑way investment cooperation, and guiding cross‑border industrial and supply chain layouts. Chinese enterprises are moving from “products going global” to “industrial chains going global” and “ecosystems going global.” BYD is building a plant in Hungary. SAIC Group has partnered with a Turkish company to establish a manufacturing facility. CATL has launched its third European battery plant in Spain. Kingfa has scaled production in Vietnam and Spain, while advancing overseas bases in Poland, Mexico, and South Africa. IZUMI has established subsidiaries in 12 countries, including Germany, the U.S., India, Turkey, and Mexico. By the end of 2025, Chinese enterprises had set up more than 50,000 overseas companies across 190 countries and regions. In the meantime, foreign investors continue to expand in China. In 2025, actual foreign investment reached RMB 747.69 billion, with 70,392 newly established foreign‑funded enterprises, a year‑on‑year increase of 19.1%. Here are the examples: Forvia from France expanded its plant in Changshu, Jiangsu. BASF’s Zhanjiang integrated base launched a one‑million‑ton ethylene unit. Covestro opened a new TPU production facility in Zhuhai. Against this backdrop of “going out” and “bringing in,” the value of international trade platforms is increasingly prominent. As a hub for face‑to‑face technical exchange and business matchmaking, CHINAPLAS effectively breaks information barriers, builds industry consensus, and strengthens collaborative innovation. It provides Chinese enterprises with channels to connect with overseas markets and adapt to regional needs, while offering foreign companies a window into China’s manufacturing strength and innovation capabilities. With decades of accumulated influence, CHINAPLAS has become the global meeting place for the plastics and rubber industries, continuously attracting exhibitors and buyers worldwide.     Pre-Register Now to Seize Opportunities Standing at the starting point of the “15th Five‑Year Plan,” CHINAPLAS 2026 will comprehensively showcase the wave of new productive forces in plastics and rubber industries. The exhibition will help the industry grasp macro trends, identify emerging opportunities, and efficiently connect with core resources. The global plastics and rubber community is invited to join this landmark event and co‑author a new chapter of high‑quality development. Pre-registration for CHINAPLAS 2026 has begun! Click HERE to pre-register for an admission ticket at USD 7.5. Visitors will receive an eConfirmation letter (Hong Kong/Taiwan/Macau region of China and overseas visitors) upon completion of pre-registration.  For more information or enquiries, please visit www.ChinaplasOnline.com or contact Chinaplas.pr@adsale.com.hk. Please click on the photo to download the high-resolution images. Grateful if we are provided a copy or a link for reference if it is published. This press release is issued by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. For media inquiries, please contact: Hong Kong: Ms. Cynthia Lau Tel: (852) 2516 3583 Email: Chinaplas.Media@adsale.com.hk Official Website: www.ChinaplasOnline.com CHINAPLAS WeChat: 
About CHINAPLAS 2026 CHINAPLAS 2026 is organized by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., Beijing Yazhan Exhibition Services Ltd., Adsale Exhibition Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Adsale Exhibition Services (Shenzhen) Ltd. and co-organized by China National Light Industry Council - China Plastics Processing Industry Association, China Plastics Machinery Industry Association, the Plastic Trade Association of Shanghai, and Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. The event is also supported by various plastics and rubber associations in China and abroad. First introduced in 1983, CHINAPLAS has been approved by UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) as a "UFI Approved International Event". CHINAPLAS 2026 is exclusively sponsored by the Europe’s Association for Plastics and Rubber Machinery Manufacturers (EUROMAP) in China for the 35th time. CHINAPLAS is currently Asia’s leading plastics and rubber trade fair, and is widely recognized by the industry as one of the most influential exhibitions in the world. |
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2026·4·21 - 24
National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China
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