Effective preparation for K 2013
The exhibitor database is online / online ticket shop starts in March / K-App for Android and Apple
There are still seven months until the start of K 2013 in Düsseldorf, but the world's most important trade fair for plastics and rubber is already underway at www.k-online.de. The newly designed website makes the effective preparation and planning of the K visit very easy.
In the last K year, 2010, the portal was clicked on more than eleven million times. The clearly arranged K 2013 portal also offers a wealth of up-to-date information about the trade fair, news from the industry, innovations from science and, of course, lots of practical tips for visiting the trade fair. The heart of the K-Portal has recently been online: the exhibitor database – the virtual catalogue, so to speak. Since then, visits in January and February have increased to around 110.000. Users can search for individual companies in the "Companies and Products" area, but they can also view and download a list of companies in action areas or individual nations.
numerous personalized services such as MyOrganizer, MyCalendar for making appointments online and MyCatalogue for putting together an individual trade fair catalog complete the offer. Particularly pleasing: With the K app, all important information is also available on the go – for both Android and Apple systems.
The matchmaking function is particularly useful. This Internet contact exchange brings exhibitors and visitors together even better: Both sides can ask and view their questions and offers – for example the search for a new cooperation partner – online. In this way, they can make contacts in the run-up to the trade fair and meet up for targeted discussions during the K.
Save money with the eTicket
It is completely new for visitors to buy tickets for K 2013 directly via the Internet and print them out @home - with a double advantage: saving money and time. The e-ticket is significantly cheaper than the one bought on site: the day ticket costs EUR 49 online and EUR 65 at the Düsseldorf box offices. The three-day ticket costs EUR 108,00 online compared to EUR 135,00 on site. As with the last K, use of the region's public buses and trains is included in the price.
The Southeast Asian Markets: A Utopia of Growth
Growth opportunities in Southeast Asia were unaffected by the global economic downturn in 2008-2010. The creation of a common market in the ASEAN region (ASEAN Economic Community, AEC) by 2015 will open up further opportunities for companies in the plastics and rubber industry on a growth course – especially against the background of the economic slowdown in Europe and the USA. Here is a market overview on the occasion of the upcoming K 2013, the world's largest trade fair for plastics and rubber, from October 16th to 23rd in Düsseldorf.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has 600 million consumers and is heading for an optimistic growth trend. Export sales are closely linked to the US and Europe, but the shift to the regional consumer market has now intensified and the group has thereby cushioned the global crisis. The plastics industry in the region has achieved average annual growth of 9% despite the negative impact of falling demand, volatile prices, capacity constraints and labor shortages.
Trade deals such as the 2010 ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), which cut import tariffs to 0-5%, the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA), the China Trade Agreement (ACFTA), and the Expanded are expected to be Economic Engagement Initiative (3E) will strengthen investment opportunities in the ASEAN region. This development is expected to be additionally supported by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) until 2015, which aims at a duty-free common market and a common production environment.
Improved economic conditions and favorable manufacturing conditions in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have attracted significant investment in the Southeast Asian engineering plastics market. According to Frost & Sullivan, the market was worth €2011 billion in 1,6. By 2018 it is estimated at 3,2 billion euros - with growth of at least 10-15% over these eight years based on robust sales of electrical appliances and vehicles.
In addition, demand for fuel-efficient vehicles that comply with CO2 emission limits, smaller turbocharged engines and lightweight components has increased in the region, driving the engineering plastics market.
In Singapore, printed or organic electronics as well as green electronics, bioelectronics and products for the security sector are emerging as growth markets for the country's plastics industry. According to the Economic Development Board (EDB), printed electronics already accounts for 10% of the country's total electronics production and will grow by 2020% by 30 - in a global market that BCC Research forecasts will grow by more than 2016 billion euros by 9,4.
the market for bio-renewable raw materials, which according to Frost & Sullivan is expected to grow by more than 19% by 2018 (Strategic Analysis of the Asia-Pacific Renewable Materials Market), is the target of the strategy by the initiates The Thai Government wants to position the country as a center for bioplastics by 2021.
Success also depends on Thailand's bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) production capacity, which will increase to 2020 tons by 721.000, according to figures from Thailand's National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Germany's nova Institute. On the other hand, there is a PLA capacity in Asia that is expected to increase to over 350.000 tons. However, most of it is exported as domestic demand remains weak.
A pioneer in the packaging sector is Indonesia with significant domestic demand from the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Sales in this area increased in 2012 by 11% to 3,27 billion euros. Plastic consumption in Indonesia rose to 2012 million tons in 3, with the food and beverage packaging industry accounting for almost 70% of total plastic consumption.
The medical technology industry in Malaysia is now expected to grow to 2015 billion euros by 1,27. With 190 medical device companies manufacturing gloves, catheters, hypodermic needles, contact lenses, orthopedic and other high value products, the industry has been recognized as a priority industry under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) program. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), it aims to meet growing regional needs driven by an aging population, better access to health care, lifestyle changes and an emerging trend towards medical tourism.
Although the plastics sector in Vietnam grew by 2011-15% in 20 and is expected to continue growing into 2020, it may not be competitive as the country is still heavily dependent on raw material and machinery imports in this area.
Meanwhile, disparities in the economic performance of some ASEAN member countries in the auto sector show that demand and other variables, including government support, improved plant and site conditions, play a role in growth. For example, weak vehicle demand in the Philippines could result in the closure of some existing vehicle manufacturing facilities. The comparatively small industry could in turn have a negative impact on the consumption of engineering plastics and rubber, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) benefiting from the 6% growth in the construction sector.
Nevertheless, Thailand remains the center of the automotive industry in Asia and the industry is growing at around 8,1% of GDP. By 2014, a capacity of 2,3 million vehicles is forecast. The various free trade agreements and government support strengthen Thailand's competitiveness.
Overall, a healthy auto sector in the ASEAN region will boost demand and contribute to rising rubber prices, particularly in the top producing countries in Asia, namely Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, which account for around 67% of world production.
