Global Demand for Plastics Rises

DUBAI, UAE, March 1, 2011 - Demand for plastics in South Africa is rising, but imports from Asia and
the Middle East could satisfy much of the growth in this market. A report
from Frost & Sullivan, "Production and Investment Forecasts in the South
African Chemicals Industry," estimates that the country's chemical industry
generated sales of $21.67 billion in 2009.

The report attributes growing demand for chemicals, particularly
plastics, to the nation's mining, automotive, agricultural and construction
industries.

If one looks globally, demand for plastic packaging caps and closures are
projected to rise 4.6 percent per year to $40 billion in 2014, according to
the World Caps & Closures report by The Freedonia Group, Inc. Trends
favouring this growth and feeding the sector include globalization,
urbanization, and a shift in product mix toward higher-value closures-
including plastic products with child-resistant, tamper-evident and
dispensing features.

While numbers show that the U.S. is the largest market for plastics, the
fastest growth is taking place in Africa and other developing nations.

Under endorsement by the Plastics Federation of South Africa, the
International Quality & Productivity Center - an international research firm
- is organizing a key meeting in Johannesburg to bring together the key
stakeholders from the government and regulatory bodies as well as local and
international plastic converters and band owners to discuss the country's
growth and practical solutions that can be implemented to improve service
delivery and future planning in the plastic industry.

The Plastic Packaging Africa 2011 will take place from 23 - 26 May 2011
May in Radisson Blu Gautrain, Johannesburg and key companies attending
include Carbon Protocol of South Africa, SA Plastics Journal, Plastic
Converters Association, Astrapak Group, PETCO, The South African Plastics
Recycling Organisation, Italpac, Woolworths, CGCSA, Plaslope PTY Ltd, DTI,
Plastics Federation of South Africa, FIMA, Tshwane University of Technology,
CSIR and Parmalat. A full line-up of attending dignitaries and experts is
available at www.plasticpackagingafrica.co.za

About International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC)
Middle East:

For over thirty years, IQPC has helped the world's leading
corporations solve their business challenges through the sharing of practical
industry solutions and global best practice. In the process, the company has
built a formidable reputation for quality and value. During this time, the
Middle East's most progressive companies have benefited from IQPC's
unrivalled global reach, which has connected international expertise with
regional and local leaders. For more information, visit www.iqpc.ae

    For more information, please contact

    Chichi Osuagwu
    Marketing Manager
    International Quality and Productivity Centre Middle East
    T: +971-4-364-2975
    F: +971-4-363-1938
    enquiry@iqpc.ae

For more information, please contact: Chichi Osuagwu, Marketing Manager, International Quality and Productivity Centre Middle East, T: +971-4-364-2975, F: +971-4-363-1938, enquiry at iqpc.ae