Here are the top 10 stories on the English-language PN China Web site in the past year, based on story clicks. Interestingly, all of them were published in the first quarter - before the very successful Chinaplas and K show coverage. The results might have been affected by factors like the time duration of a story being available online.

• No. 1: Sunningdale reports profit thanks to geographical diversity

This story marks the first time in PN China history when the annual top story features something other than China. A straight forward report on the publicly listed Singapore molder returning to profits, it quoted the company's comments on the regions and sectors that offset the drop in sales from the North American auto industry.


• No. 2: Klöckner Pentaplast invests in Asia and US

The German company added film production capacity in Rayong, Thailand and Rural Retreat, Va.


• No. 3: Taiwan backs plastics research initiatives

During the Taipei Plas Show, our Asia Bureau Chief Steve Toloken interviewed the Taiwan Plastics Industry Development Center, which aims to help plastics firms in higher growth areas like green energy and medical manufacturing.


• No. 4: Chinese PP recycler filing IPO in Australia

While the new ChiNext -- the start-up board modeled after the Nasdaq -- enables more and more plastics companies to go public in China, recycler Novarise Renewable Resources International Ltd. decided to issue an initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange to fund its expansion of production and research in China.


• No. 5: Firms find higher-than-expected costs in China's interior

Foreign manufacturers in China are building factories in interior regions as a lower-cost escape from established coastal cities. But some found themselves disappointed with unexpected high labor rates or more supply chain or logistics difficulty.


• No. 6: U.S. moldmakers see China factory as way into local market

China has become more than just the world's low-cost factory, especially since the global financial crisis. The healthy growth and enormous potential of China's domestic market attract foreign companies that hope to grab their share.


• No. 7: Synventive adding second China factory

The Peabody, Mass.-based manufacturer of hot runners and components hoped to double its capacity within two years. Mark Moss, who returned to the U.S. headquarters after his four-plus-year term as Synventive Asia President, spoke exclusively to Plastics News about the details of the expansion.


• No. 8: China's BYD targets North American auto market

The Warren Buffet favorite electric car maker announced plans to launch sales of its all-electric E6 sedan in the U.S. by the end of 2010 and build a U.S. research and development and production facility "soon after that."


• No. 9: Asia alliance aids Thermoforming Systems' global sales

American plastic equipment maker Thermoforming Systems LLC credited its manufacturing partnership with Hong Kong-based Sunwell Machines Co. Ltd. for its success entry to emerging markets like Brazil and India.


• No. 10: Hong Kong toy show exhibit results in yo-yo logo tiff

At Asia's largest toy exhibition, American plastic yoyo maker Duncan Toys found a Chinese competitor with products it believed violated Duncan trademarks. Duncan filed a complaint with the show organizers, but the work to protect its products didn't stop there.

Click here to check out the 10 most-read stories on the Chinese-language PN China Web site.

Beyond this list, please share in the comment what you think were the most significant news events for the plastics industry in 2010.