Tons of plastic scrap could be auctioned in Hong Kong

The Beijing-based China Scrap Plastics Association (CSPA) says some 5,000 sea containers loaded with plastic scrap may be auctioned off from their current position in Hong Kong. The containers from all over the world are loaded with plastic scrap and have not been able to enter the People’s Republic of China since it began its National Sword inspection regimen.

In an 11 April 2017 email to its members, the CSPA says it is helping to prepare the estimated 5,000 “overdue” containers bearing plastic scrap to be “auctioned to potential buyers from Southeast Asia.”

The CSPA says the containers have been stuck in a “stagnant” position at the port of Hong Kong ever since “the Customs [agency] of mainland China began checking every container that is to be cleared, which slows down the speed of clearance.”

The organisation also says China Customs, in many cases, “has not ascertained whether many types of these goods can be allowed to enter, and some of them are surely prohibited from entering into China’s mainland.”

Further adding to the delays, CSPA says, “China Customs has been scrutinizing licenses for plastic scrap in case the licenses are borrowed or sold illegally.”

In most cases, the owners of the containers “haven’t found channels through which their goods can be transported to other countries and areas.” Although many shippers and receivers have taken a “watch and wait” position, “hoping the restrictions will gradually be relaxed,” CSPA says, “there is no sign of improvement yet.”

CSPA says the “Global Auction of 5,000 containers in Hong Kong” initiative will be launched both online and at the ChinaReplas 2017 Exhibition, taking place 11-12 May 2017  in Dongguan, China. At the May event, “We are going to arrange a special session for auctioning these Hong Kong containers, by which owners can trade with buyers face-to-face,” CSPA says. “We hope that owners will be able to find suitable buyers via the efforts of our association.”