The positive feedback received lately from the Russian market and, in particular, from the plastics, rubber and packaging industry as well as the process industries associated with it has now been confirmed very emphatically at the two trade fairs interplastica (the 21^st International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair), and upakovka – Processing and Packaging. The upswing in major market segments is leading to strong demand for plastic and rubber products as well as packaging. The manufacturers of these products are investing as much as they can in modern production technologies and materials, in order to be able to satisfy the increasingly exacting requirements made by their customers. About 900 companies from 30 countries presented their innovations at the two trade fairs in the SAO Expocenter in Krasnaja Presnja from 23. to 26. January and were unanimous in reporting a tremendous response and impressive business success. 24,900 experts from all over Russia and from the neighbouring countries visited interplastica and upakovka. 23,000 visitors were registered in 2017.

Werner M. Dornscheidt, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, was satisfied with the trade fairs: “To the extent that the Russian economy is developing positively and reliably, Russian companies are taking advantage of the two leading industry showcases. This is where they can get to know the new developments on the world market and enter into intensive negotiations with the suppliers directly. The exhibitors that maintained a consistent presence in Russia under poorer market conditions as well are now benefitting to a particularly large extent from their good contacts in the industry. In addition to the conclusion of many sales contracts, the high quality of the demand was a very important sign that an economically attractive future is beginning.”

The trade visitors were in turn very impressed by the wide range of innovative products and services on show that gave them a valuable insight into trends and future market opportunities. The improvement in the rouble exchange rate is now helping to enable Russian companies that had to defer necessary purchases in the recent crisis years to invest in the modernisation of their production.

Global exports of plastics and rubber machinery to Russia declined for a number of years. In 2016 (more recent figures are not available yet), the total value of supplies to Russia from all over the world amounted to about EUR 326 million, which was almost 43 per cent lower than in the previous year. Two of the most important sources of supply – Germany and Italy – are, however, reporting that exports increased enormously in 2017. From January to November 2017, German deliveries of plastics and rubber machinery to Russia totalled EUR 104.1 million, which represents growth of 43.5 per cent over the same period the previous year (source: VDMA plastics and rubber machinery association). The Italian manufacturers of machines, equipment and moulds for the processing of plastics and rubber delivered goods worth EUR 73 million to Russia in the first nine months of last year, which amounts to 109 per cent more than in the same period of 2016. According to AMAPLAST, the Italian industry association, this means that Russia is one of the ten most important export destinations again, following very poor years that were attributable to economic sanctions and difficult market conditions.

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