Union Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated CAPINDIA 2018

Mumbai: The chemicals and plastics sector exports registered 22% growth on a year-to-date basis, announced Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Hon. Union Minister inaugurated the 3rd Edition of CAPINDIA 2018, under the aegis of the Department of Commerce, Government of India (GOI), supported by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, GOI and organised jointly by PLEXCONCIL, CHEMEXCIL, CAPEXIL & SHEFEXIL, is one of the largest sourcing and networking events for the Chemicals, Plastics, Construction & Mining Industries and Allied Products. The State of Gujarat is the State Partner for CAPINDIA 2018. This expansive ‘Make in India’ showcase of India’s manufacturing capacities and capabilities (including its abilities to service overseas markets) is being held from 22nd to 24th March 2018 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai. The initiative is a showcase of the country’s world-class manufacturing capabilities and capacities and aims to enhance exports of Indian manufactured products.

The 3-day exhibition is spread over 18,000 sq. mt and hosts 700+ manufacturers/exporters, who are showcasing hundreds of products, including a range of Industrial & Agricultural Raw Materials, Consumer Items, Packaging Items, Plastics Processing Machinery and Construction Materials, Mining Products amongst others. CAPINDIA hosts 400 International buyers from across the globe who are being invited to attend the Buyer Seller Meets being organized as part of the Government’s MAI Scheme to promote key export segments through platforms that foster closer trade collaboration between Indian manufacturers-exporters and target countries.

The show is expected to receive over 10,000 visitors comprising Domestic & Overseas buyers, International Agents and Distributors seeking market representation from Indian exporters, End Users seeking raw materials for captive consumption, Private Label Buyers, Merchant Exporters, Industrial and Marketing Consultants, Central and State Government Departments & Agencies and many more.

Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Hon. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India, said, “As part of the country’s policy initiatives on increasing India’s Import-Export ratio it is essential to focus on substantially increase the contribution of foreign trade to the GDP. I would like to congratulate the four export promotion Councils – PLEXCONCIL, CHEMEXCIL, CAPEXIL & SHEFEXIL for organising CAPINDIA 2018, one of the largest sourcing events for the Chemicals, Plastics, Construction, Mining and Allied Industries. On behalf of our Ministry and the Government of India, we applaud the initiatives and efforts of the Export Promotion Councils as well as urge the leading Indian companies in plastics, chemicals, construction, mining and allied products exports to extend their whole-hearted support, participate at CAPINDIA 2018 and be a part of this collective effort.”

Mr. A. K. Basak, Chairman, PLEXCONCIL, said, “CAPINDIA 2018 is a very significant show for our members as we target to cross the US$ 8 billion mark in 2017-18. Plastics are among the fastest growing industries in India experiencing a double-digit growth rate on an average. The Indian Plastics industry offers immense potential in terms of capacity, infrastructure and skilled manpower. India is currently ranked among the top five consumers of polymers in the world and has 30,000+ plastic processing units employing over four million people across the country. The current trend in India’s plastic exports seems highly encouraging.”

Mr. Basak said, “Export of plastics from India has picked pace. Based on quick estimates available from the DGCI&S and Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the cumulative value of plastics export during April 2017 – February 2018 was USD 6,813.70 million as against USD 5,860.95 million during the same in the previous year, registering a growth of 16.3%. Plastics exports have been particularly boosted by strong growth in export of plastics raw materials, plastic sheet/film/plates and packaging materials to Latin America & Caribbean (LAC), North-East Asia and European Union (EU). The growth achieved so far in 2017-18 is significant as we have set ourselves an export target of US$ 8.31 billion for the entire year 2017-18. We are delighted to share that India’s plastics export to United States, the largest destination, continues to tread higher and is most likely to cross the coveted US$ 1 billion mark in 2017-18 at current pace. As far as our foreign trade is concerned, we continue to focus on the export of value-added plastics from India, which formed 66% of our overall plastics exports of USD 7.56 billion in 2016-17. The global export market for plastics is a huge ocean of opportunities (US$ 850 billion upwards) and our share in this ocean is quite negligible (less than 1.0%). Given the immense opportunity presented, our members must make the best use of various export promotion activities such as CAPINDIA made available by our Government through the Council.”

Mr. Satish Wagh, Chairman, CHEMEXCIL, said, “CAPINDIA 2018 will be bigger and better than ever before and will be attended by Domestic/ Export Trade, Overseas Buyers from across the globe, Industry Leaders, Government Officials and Policy makers, Consultants and opinion builders, Education and R&D Experts, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), Investors, MSME/ SME Entrepreneurs and many more. CHEMEXCIL’s panel-wise exports were US$ 12.15 billion in 2016-17. Exports of Chemicals (including Agro Chemicals), Dyes, Cosmetics, Toiletries & Castor Oil has picked up pace. Based on the estimates available from DGCI&S and Ministry of Commerce & industry, the Cumulative value of export of items falling under the purview of CHEMEXCIL during April, 2017- February, 2018 was USD 13848.53 million against USD 10767.53 million during the same period in the previous year, registering a growth of 28.6%. CHEMEXCIL’s exports have been particularly boosted by strong growth in exports of Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, Essential Oils to Bangladesh, China, Germany, Indonesia and France. The Indian chemicals industry with a market size of US$ 145 billion is the seventh largest producer of chemicals worldwide and the third largest producer in Asia after China and Japan. India is the third largest producer of agro chemicals globally and exports 50% of its production. Specialty chemicals market has been growing at 14% over the last five years due to domestic consumption and the market size is expected to touch US$ 70 billion by 2020. It is a capital intensive industry which employs approx. 2 mn people in India. CAPINDIA will help us tap immense opportunities for growth, which exist in the fields of specialty chemicals, polymers and agrochemicals industries as ‘Make in India’ initiative further facilitates growth and investment.”

Mr. R. Veeramani, President, CAPEXIL, said, “CAPINDIA 2018 Exhibition is slated to be one of India’s largest global sourcing shows for products in our business. CAPINDIA 2018 will be significant as it is the first mega industry event following Union Budget FY2019 and the implementation of GST, which will have a significant bearing on targeted exports in sync with the Government’s vision for Year 2022. The export target fixed for CAPEXIL products is US$ 16.45 billion for the year 2017-18 which marks a 9.6% growth in exports compared to US$ 15.01 bn in 2016-17. The construction and mining sectors are responsible for propelling India’s overall development. Panel-wise exports for CAPEXIL touched US$ 16.12 billion during the period from April 2017 to February 2018 showing a growth of over 19% compared to corresponding period last year’s corresponding figures of US$ 13.52 billion. Exports of Construction & Mining products is significant and shows potential for growth. CAPINDIA 2018 event will also have participation from all major industries and sectors including Granite, Natural Stone, Marble, Minerals and Ores, Paints, Coating, Glassware, Furniture, Ceramic, Sanitary ware, Cement, Clinkers, Asbestos, Paper, Paper board, Stationary products, book Publishers and Printers.

Mr. S. K. Ghosh, Chairman of Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL), said, “SHEFEXIL’s frontline products to be exhibited at CAPINDIA 18 would cover items like Shellac and Lac Products, Guar Gum Powder, Tamarind Kernel Powder, medicinal Herbs/Extracts, Aleuritic acid etc. India’s export of SHEFEXIL products valued at USD 171.51 million during December 2017 as against USD 143.04 million during December 2016, registering positive growth of 19.9%. Cumulative SHEFEXIL product exports during April – December 2017 also recorded a growth of 23.73% over the same period last year, by securing exports of USD 1341.9million as against USD 1084.52million during April – December 2016. As compared to previous month (November 2017) export of SHFEXIL products in December 2017, increased by 14.82% in terms of value. In value terms, during December 2017, export of Fixed Vegetable Oil Cake and Others, Guar Gum, Plant and Plant Portion, Vegetable Saps & Extracts grew positively, whereas export of Other Vegetable Material and Shellac & Lac Based Products declined, as compared to exports made during December 2016. In value terms, cumulative exports of all Panels except Other Vegetable Materials, shows positive growth during April-December 2017-18, as compared to the same period during April-December 2016-17.”