The 3rd ICIS Asian Polymer Conference held in Shanghai

Rising crude values and expanded domestic capacity could restrain China’s volume of polymer imports this year. This was the message from a senior China customs official speaking at the 3rd ICIS Asian Polymer Conference in Shanghai this month. Zhang Bingzheng, Deputy Director of the Statistical Department of General Administration of China Customs, told over 100 high-level delegates that the rising price of imported crude in 2006 had made polymer imports more expensive. In 2006, the average import price of crude in China was $457.4/tonne, which was a rise of 21.6% on an annual basis. This was exacerbated by the fact that last year the domestic capacity of polymers expanded and replaced some imports, he added.

The 3rd ICIS Asian Polymer Conference, organised by ICIS, the world’s leading information provider for the chemical and oil industry, was recently held in Shanghai. Over 17 speakers from the industry shared their knowledge and opinion with more than 40 attendees from various global polymer manufacturers and traders, such as Basell, SABIC, SINOPEC, SECCO, Borouge, BASF, INEOS, Mitsubishi and BP.

The factors that impact the purchasing, pricing and processing and other important aspects for the polymer industry such as innovation and environmental issues were discussed. Issues from raw material supply to the main end-user sectors were covered at the 3rd ICIS Asian Polymer Conference. The attendees also discussed the challenges and the opportunities in China’s polymers industry and market. The development of China’s plastics industry was briefed by Mr. Liao Zhengpin, President of China Plastic Processing Industry Association.

ICIS has successfully organised the 1st and 2nd Asian Polymer Conferences and continues to organise related conferences for the petrochemical industry, providing a major networking opportunity for executives in the industry to hear about the latest market trends in their sector.

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