World Analysis – Vinyls

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

The vinyls chain, comprised of ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is a critical component of the global petrochemical and thermoplastics sectors. PVC is a competitive and attractive option for many end-use applications due to its physical and chemical properties. PVC is often used for its versatility, durability, self-extinguishing properties, chemical and oil resistance, mechanical stability, ease of processing and molding. Common PVC sectors include construction, infrastructure, agricultural, electrical, automotive, and healthcare products. PVC resin can easily combine with many solvents and additives and can be compounded or fabricated into various forms. These forms most notably include pipes, fittings, profiles, tubes, windows, doors, sidings, wire, cable, film, sheet, and flooring.

The global vinyls business is highly competitive, and exporting producers continuously strive to optimize cost efficiencies to maintain competitive market positions. Producers in low-cost regions with advantaged energy and feedstock costs tend to have the most attractive cost positions and the most significant shares in the export market. Major exporting regions include North America, the Middle East (mainly EDC and VCM), and the Asia Pacific region. Over the past decade, PVC integration into chlorine, EDC, and VCM has grown in most regions. Further upstream integration into ethylene can provide an economic advantage for chlor-vinyls producers. However, the PVC business often competes with other ethylene derivatives in regions with domestic ethylene availability. Downstream integration into PVC-fabricated products or compounding could become more common as a low-cost option to add value to PVC resin. The PVC business also competes with other polymers, primarily high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other material substitutes, including glass, wood, aluminum, steel, iron, and concrete. As a result, PVC demand is price-sensitive to material competition.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

The World Analysis – Vinyls provides a comprehensive analysis and key insights of critical market developments as they shape the future outlook for the global Vinyls market.

The following reports, data files, analytical tools and visualization modules are available online and can be downloaded from our website:

• Direct Access to the Subject Matter Experts
• In-depth exploration of present market strategic insights, recognition of key challenges, and presentation of our experts’ forecasts and analysis
• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodologies, unit and conversion factors, and World Analysis deliverables.
• Energy and Economy assumptions
• Price, cost and margin base assumptions forecast and sensitivities analysis, including price assessment methodology, including price definitions across all regions.
• Excel data files with standard supply/demand graphics and price forecasts extended to 2050, trade grids with country and regional trade flows Data appendix (Excel) with supply/demand, capacity and trade tables.
• An online dashboard visualization of capacity, supply/demand, trade grids, and price, cost and margin forecasts
• Supply/demand and capacity database access via data browser
• Data Appendix (Excel) with supply/demand and capacity tables
• Capacity by company/shareholder, capacity integration, top producer/consumer and surplus/deficit capacity ranking, and ownership/subsidiary information

In addition to the main product(s), capacity and textual analysis are provided for the following products:

Supply/Demand Balances

• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Vinyl Chloride Monomer
• Ethylene Dichloride

Capacity

• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Vinyl Chloride Monomer
• Ethylene Dichloride
• Other Vinyls

This World Analysis contains detailed information on capacities, production, demand, and trade for all significant producing and consuming countries and regions. Although data gathering is essential for understanding history and potential future trends, we believe that the interpretation and analysis of the data is the most valuable information to our clients.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050