On April 21, 2026, CHINAPLAS 2026 officially opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Hongqiao, Shanghai, China. Covering more than 390,000 square meters across 16 exhibition halls, the event brings together over 5,000 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s leading trade fairs for the plastics and rubber industries.

As part of the event, the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA) organized a delegation visit to CHINAPLAS 2026, with the participation of 160 representatives from member companies. This annual activity reflects the Association’s commitment to supporting Vietnamese enterprises by providing access to the latest technologies, materials, and advanced manufacturing solutions from the global plastics and rubber industry.

CHINAPLAS 2026 takes place amid significant challenges facing the global plastics sector, including raw material price volatility, supply chain restructuring, and growing sustainability requirements. Under the theme “Transformation – Collaboration – Sustainability,” the exhibition focuses on key industry priorities such as the circular economy, digital manufacturing, innovative materials, and advanced technologies.

One of the highlights of this year’s exhibition is the live demonstration of more than 3,800 machines in operation, alongside over 1,900 raw material suppliers and more than 350 technologies making their global or Asian debut. These figures underscore the strength of the industry’s value chain, spanning raw materials, equipment, manufacturing technologies, and end-use applications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and smart manufacturing continue to be among the most prominent trends. Automated injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding systems; IoT-based manufacturing management platforms; AI-powered real-time quality and energy monitoring solutions; collaborative robots; and micro-injection molding technologies all demonstrate the industry’s ongoing transition from automation to intelligent manufacturing.

At the same time, green transformation and the circular economy have emerged as essential pillars of future development. Solutions featuring recycled plastics, bio-based plastics, chemical recycling, biodegradable materials, bottle-to-bottle recycling systems, food-grade recycled resin production, and AI-enabled smart sorting equipment highlight the industry’s efforts to reduce emissions, optimize resource utilization, and enhance material recovery.

The exhibition also showcases rapid advancements in new materials designed for high-growth sectors such as renewable energy, medical devices, robotics, aerospace, electronics, and data centers. These advanced engineering materials are expanding application possibilities, helping manufacturers improve product performance, enhance efficiency, and meet increasingly stringent market requirements.

For Vietnamese enterprises, participation in CHINAPLAS 2026 is more than an opportunity to visit a major international exhibition. It is also an important platform for gaining new insights into industry development, identifying business partners, expanding networks, and better understanding the transformation requirements shaping the industry’s future.

Through the organization of this delegation, the Vietnam Plastics Association continues to strengthen its role as a bridge between domestic enterprises and international markets. The initiative supports member companies in enhancing competitiveness, adopting emerging technologies, and integrating more deeply into global value chains.

The global plastics and rubber industry is entering a new stage of development, where advanced technology, sustainable materials, circular economy practices, and supply chain collaboration are becoming decisive factors for success. In this context, the proactive international engagement of Vietnamese enterprises, together with the Association’s ongoing support, will serve as a strong foundation for enhancing the position and sustainable development of Vietnam’s plastics industry in the years ahead.