PVC: Production
A world running well below its capacity
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | about 60-65 Mt/yr of PVC (2025, indicative); VCM capacity 54.8 Mt (2024) and 57.1 Mt (2025) | GlobalData via Offshore Technology (VCM, via VCM tile); PVC indicative | |
| World output | about 47 Mt (2023, derived); world operating rate 76% in 2023, forecast in the mid-to-upper 70s (S&P Global) | S&P Global via Chemical Week, Apr 2024; VCM tile | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 75-80% (indicative) | Weak Chinese construction and European demand since 2023 keep rates low. About 1.7 Mt of new ethylene-based Chinese PVC came by end-2025, and producers were expected to cut run rates (S&P Global, Jul 2025). | S&P Global, Jul 2025; indicative |
| Concentration | China about 45%; top 3 countries about 70% (indicative) | Outside China a few firms dominate: Shin-Etsu (Shintech), Westlake, Formosa, OxyVinyls, INEOS Inovyn and Orbia. Westlake alone has 3.46 Mt of VCM capacity (VCM tile). | VCM tile (Westlake 10-K FY2025); indicative |
| New capacity | China about 1.7 Mt of new ethylene-based PVC by end-2025; India capacity could rise about 2.5x (CareEdge) | Qatar Vinyl 350 kt/yr (Mesaieed, 2025); TA'ZIZ UAE EDC/VCM/PVC complex of 1.3 Mt/yr due 4Q2028 (VCM tile); Adani Mundra 1 Mt/yr (development phase, no date); Reliance expansions announced (sizes not checked). | S&P Global, Jul 2025; VCM tile; Adani Enterprises 2026; CareEdge via Indian Chemical News, Dec 2025 |
Top producing countries
China 45% · about 25-28 Mt/yr capacity, about 70% carbide route (indicative) United States 15% · about 9 Mt/yr (indicative); export-led Europe 10% · about 6 Mt/yr (indicative) Japan 5% · about 3 Mt/yr (indicative) Taiwan 4% · about 2 Mt/yr; Formosa (indicative) India 3% · about 1.6 Mt/yr capacity (FY2025-26) VCM tile (indicative); Adani Enterprises 2026Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin-Etsu Chemical (Shintech) largest PVC producer (indicative); Plaquemine VCM Plant 3 in the US | Japan/US | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Westlake faces EU 58.0% and UK 56.01% anti-dumping duties on US PVC | US | 3.46 Mt VCM capacity | 2025 | Westlake 10-K FY2025 (via VCM tile) |
| Formosa Plastics Group major exporter to India (indicative) | Taiwan/US | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| OxyVinyls (Occidental, sold to Berkshire Hathaway) not published here | US | not published | 2025 | VCM tile |
| INEOS Inovyn Europe's largest; sells bio-attributed Biovyn PVC (indicative) | UK/Europe | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Orbia (Vestolit, Alphagary) integrated from fluorspar and salt to PVC pipe (indicative) | Mexico | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical large carbide-route producer (indicative) | China | not published | 2025 | VCM tile |
| Qatar Vinyl start-up expected Sep 2025 | Qatar | 0.35 Mt/yr new PVC plant (Mesaieed) | 2025 | S&P Global, Jul 2025 |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Industries largest; ethylene-based EDC/VCM at Dahej and Hazira; expansion announced (VCM tile) | India | not published | 2025 | Reliance annual report |
| Finolex Industries Ratnagiri PVC from imported VCM and EDC; also India's largest PVC pipe maker (indicative) | India | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| Chemplast Sanmar suspension (Cuddalore) and paste PVC; petitioner in the 2026 CVD case | India | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| DCM Shriram Kota, carbide route (VCM tile, indicative); petitioner in ADD and CVD cases | India | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
| DCW Sahupuram; petitioner in ADD and CVD cases | India | not published | 2025 | company disclosures |
India's PVC demand was about 4.55 Mt in FY2025-26 against about 1.6 Mt of capacity, with about 3 Mt imported (Adani Enterprises 2026); CareEdge says about three-quarters of demand is imported. China supplied 1.17 Mt of suspension PVC in 2025, 47% of suspension imports, up from 38% in 2024 (S&P Global, Feb 2026). Adani's Mundra Petrochemicals is developing a 1 Mt/yr integrated PVC plant; even with it, a shortfall of about 3 Mt/yr is projected for 2030 (Adani Enterprises 2026).
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Low-cost ethane and chlorine; large exporter. FAS Houston PVC fell to $630/t in Jul 2025, a five-year low; faces EU, UK and Brazil anti-dumping duties. |
| EU | High-cost; protected by a 58.0% anti-dumping duty on US PVC (VCM tile); German infrastructure spending of €500 billion could lift pipe demand (S&P Global 2025). |
| India | About two-thirds to three-quarters import-dependent; prices set by Chinese and US offers and Indian trade remedies. |
| China | About 45% of capacity, mostly carbide-based; export VAT rebate on PVC revoked from 1 Apr 2026, raising export prices (VCM tile). |
| Japan | Exporter of PVC and VCM to Asia (indicative). |
| Middle East | New export capacity in Qatar and the UAE; less dependent on Hormuz-sensitive India trade than PE and PP today. |