09/07/2026
We took a turn around the SPOGA+GAFA fair in Cologne this year, and the main halls 6 and 9 have kept only very large special booths—and a big chunk of Hall 6 is now taken up by robotic lawnmower brands and manufacturers. It's getting really tough for Chinese companies to squeeze into these two halls anymore.
Also, starting August 1 this year, the EU's new PPWR regulation came into effect, imposing more requirements on plastic products, plastics containing recycled content, and product packaging. In particular, even polymers like PP and PE that don't contain substances of very high concern now need to be tested for such substances, which inevitably adds to costs. Of course, if procurement prices are based on actual cost-based pricing, buyers and European consumers can still get good-quality, compliant products. But given the purchasing prices many importers are working with, we personally have our concerns.
The market needs fair competition, strict regulations, and mutual respect—only then will it keep moving in a better direction.
