Chinaplas 2020, slated for April 21-24 in Shanghai, has been postponed because of the coronovirus epidemic, the show announced Feb. 5.
The statement from Hong Kong-based Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. said it was postponing the trade show out of concern for the health and safety of participants and following instructions from the Shanghai city government to suspend all large-scale gatherings.
Adsale said a new date for the fair would be announced later.
"Please be assured that we will continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation and keep you well informed of any further news about Chinaplas 2020," Adsale said.
The show is the largest plastics industry exhibition this year, and is one of the largest — if not the largest — globally. Last year's Chinaplas, held in the city of Guangzhou, attracted an estimated 163,000 attendees and more than 3,600 exhibiting companies. The last time the show was in Shanghai, in 2018, it drew an estimated 180,000 attendees.
The announcement follows announcements in late January that other trade shows, including Asiamold 2020 in Guangzhou and the Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients show in Shanghai, both scheduled for Feb. 26-28, would be postponed.
Beyond China, IPF 2020, the Bangladesh International Plastics, Packaging and Printing trade show, originally scheduled for Feb. 12-15, has been postponed until June 4-7.
The postponement comes amid other signs of growing difficulties in the manufacturing supply chains from the coronavirus, which has killed 494, almost all in China, and sickened more than 24,600 worldwide.
South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor, for example, said Feb. 4 it was halting manufacturing at Korean plants because of supply chain disruptions caused by the virus, which has forced factories across China to close until at least Feb. 10.
As well, the outbreak could reduce first quarter vehicle output in China by 1.7 million units, or 32 percent, according to consultancy IHS Markit, in a report by Automotive News China, a sister publication of Plastics News.
