Plastic production is growing at a rapid pace worldwide as its application areas are increasing in number. The inherent advantages of plastic such as lightweight nature, ease of availability, and flexibility in its shape have made plastic the most sought-after material in a wide range of applications. The packaging industry has one of the largest application areas for synthetic plastics, with demand ranging over 45% in 2018. With a production volume of over 370 million tonnes in 2018, the usage and adoption of plastic are penetrating all major  industries in one form or the other. China is the largest producer of plastics, followed by Europe, and is expected to retain its dominant positions during the forecast period.

Australia is one of the fastest growing packaging markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Presence of large packaging companies such as Amcor, drive investments for innovation and research and development activities in the country. Major trends in Australia for plastic packaging on consumption end incline toward the demographics and demand for convenience packaging. The country witnessed a surge in population, representing millennials than baby boomers as per Australian Bureau Statistics. This is expected to drive the demand for more consumables like beverages, packaged and ready meals, packaged drinking water, convenience packages like microwave and oven safe, among others, which prefer plastic packaging medium over other alternatives owing high portability enabled by light weight of the plastics.

The flexible plastic packaging dominated the global flexible packaging market as there are numerous polymer resins that can be used to create newer packaging. The polymer prices fluctuation is an area of concern for the flexible plastic packaging as raw materials (films and resins) constitutes more than 50% of the net sales. However, the market can pass on these to  customers with price increases. Although the materials used are of low cost, the huge volumes used by the market tends to make a small price fluctuation to have a big impact on the market.

为贯彻落实党中央、国务院关于加强物流等基础设施网络建设的决策部署，科学推动《国家物流枢纽布局和建设规划》确定的2019-2020 年建设目标实现，近日，国家发展改革委、交通运输部联合印发了《国家物流枢纽网络建设实施方案（2019-2020 年）》简称《实施方案》）。《实施方案》明确了国家物流枢纽网络建设的总体要求、重点工作、申报基本条件、实施程序和组织保障等，进一步加强对地方相关政府部门和国家物流枢纽承载城市的工作指导。《实施方案》的印发，标志着国家物流枢纽布局和建设工作全面启动。

上海市十五届人大常委会第十四次会议表决通过了《上海市航道条例》（以下简称《条例》），《条例》设置了长江三角洲区域协作的专门章节，加快推进长三角高等级航道网络建设。

中共中央、国务院于9 月23 日印发《交通强国建设纲要》（以下简称“《纲要》”）， 明确到2035 年，基本建成交通强国，形成“三张交通网”“两个交通圈”。 《纲要》明确，到2020 年，完成决胜全面建成小康社会交通建设任务和“十三五” 现代综合交通运输体系发展规划各项任务，为交通强国建设奠定坚实基础；到2035 年，基 本建成交通强国；到本世纪中叶，全面建成人民满意、保障有力、世界前列的交通强国。

2019 年9 月,水运业固定资产投资继续呈现下降走势,降幅较上月有所收窄。根据交通运输部的最新统计数据,2019 年1-9 月,水路运输业城镇固定资产投资累计同比下降10.6%,降幅较2019 年1-8 月收窄2.5 个百分点。