Algerian exhibition and market

From May 2 to 4, 2010, the first edition of Plast Alger took place at the Palais des Expositions in Algiers, in concomitance with the second edition of Printpack Alger. The Algerian exhibition recorded the presence of about thirty exhibitors from 11 countries (the largest representation being 11 exhibitors from Austria), including one Italian company (Bandera). Side events included a conference on "Technological challenges for the plastics industry on the way to a sustainable development", attended by speakers and participants from Austria, France, Germany, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia. Visitor attendance at the fairgrounds appeared quite weak, especially during opening and closing days.
However, perspectives for the plastics industry in Algeria are interesting (with a growth rate of 4.5% in 2009, it is among the fastest-growing sectors in the country), also thanks to government infrastructure projects and to growing demand for packaging materials. Expectations are bright, in particular, for the extrusion of pipes and profiles (also thanks to some recent state legislation prohibiting the use of concrete pipes). In general, development forecasts for the Algerian plastics and rubber market are significant, also considering the current modest level of annual consumption (1 million tons, i.e., about 8-10 kg per capita).