PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2019

TRADE SHOW REVIEW PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 12/19 www.petpla.net 38 PET Day 2019 The 17 th edition of PET Day, the international event organised by G.S.I. (Global Service International, Italy), attracted over 100 registered participants from more than 70 companies, from 23 countries located on four continents across the world. Current challenges for the PET industry were discussed on October 3 rd at Villa Medicae, on a Tuscan hilltop near Florence, Italy, overlooking the River Arno, which was built by the famous Medici family, four centuries ago. Participants, who attend by invita- tion only, were greeted by an open- ing lecture entitled “Preparing for the Downturn”, delivered by Mr Paul Hodges of International eChem. He explained why all indicators, especially those connected to world population and its progressive ageing, say that economies are now longer growing in the way or at the rates the world has been used to. Demographic trends in the developed economies in particu- lar will lead to rapid reshaping of their economies. The challenges and oppor- tunities presented by these changes will require business flexibility. PET is possibly the best placed of all poly- mers, as the most recycled plastic in a world where sustainability is a key requirement. India: filaments, fibres and recycling Mr Gunjan Sharma, CMO Polyester of Reliance Industries of India, gave a presentation on the evolution of poly- ester materials. Polyesters are the fast- est-growing fibres in textile markets, particularly in Africa, China and India. The markets and supply of filaments are expected to grow faster than fibres. He described the capabilities of Reli- ance Group in meeting new consumer tastes and behaviours. Initiatives that directly respond to and address cus- tomer needs in sustainability and com- fort and make use of new communica- tions channels, such as social media, help to create high value across the chain and to raise Reliance’s visibility, giving it a positive image. Trade wars: economic instability and threats to the WTO structure Mr Philippe De Baere, of Van Bael & Bellis, Belgium, discussed the duties and tariffs in international trade, stating clearly that trade wars are threatening the viability of WTO agreements. Some countries have cited ‘national security’ in imposing duties that avoid WTO rules, retaliation ratchets up uncertain- ties and there appears to be no end in sight. There are pressures for change in methods of calculating duties, based more on labour rights and environ- ment values, rather than pure trading or commercial considerations. The uncertainty of Brexit is unlikely to be resolved until January 2020. Global supply & demand and the growing role of China In his overview of the market, Mr Francesco Zanchi, CEO of GSI and the event’s host, analysed global supply and demand, highlighting China’s con- tinuing huge surplus in PET capacity. He stated that Europe will have to main- tain high import levels in 2020 to satisfy increased demand, especially for rPET and appealed to EU representatives to facilitate its import to meet strong demand. Stringent REACH require- ments and food approval certifications hamper attempts to more fully utilise available rPET. GSI was recently invited to the 2019 International Futures Forum in Zhengzhou, China, to discuss its experi- ence in the PTA future market (ZCE), where it started operating many years ago. Mr Zanchi handed over the stage to Mrs. Zongfang Wang, ZCE futures market promotion officer, to explain the basics of the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange. It currently has 164 mem- bers; 29 overseas bankers can operate as brokers. Mr Zanchi concluded with a ses- sion on the circular economy and the need to accelerate collection rates all over Europe. RPET demand is rapidly increasing and its scarce availability is a matter of concern. Interlude: how the PET indus- try helps subsistence farmers in Sierra Leone Mrs. Chiara Zanchi, president of the Saint Lawrence Foundation, showed a film on its activities in Sierra Leone, where it provides practical assistance with sustainable farming production and business activity. The Foundation