# Vinyl chloride monomer: Feedstocks

Over half chlorine: why salt matters as much as gas

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

VCM is about 57% chlorine and 43% ethylene-derived carbon and hydrogen by weight. Producers with cheap ethane-based ethylene and integrated chlor-alkali (US Gulf, Middle East) are lowest cost. In China, coal-based calcium carbide competes inland. Naphtha-based Europe and Japan sit at the top of the curve.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | about 0.47 t per t VCM | carbon backbone | about 60-70% of cash cost on the ethylene route (indicative) | stoichiometry (indicative) |
| [NaCl Salt](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/) | about 0.58 t per t VCM | chlorine source | variable; low when chlorine is long | stoichiometry |
| [Tc Thermal coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/thermal_coal/) | about 0.8-0.9 t coke per t carbide (indicative) | carbide reductant and power | dominant on the carbide route | indicative |
| [CaO Lime](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/lime/) | about 0.9 t quicklime per t carbide (indicative) | calcium source | about 15-20% on the carbide route (indicative) | indicative |
| [Hg Mercury](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/mercury/) | about 1 kg catalyst per t PVC (indicative) | catalyst | small | indicative; Minamata Convention Annex B |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

US Gulf and Middle East ethane-based integrated producers are lowest cost; Chinese carbide producers are competitive inland with cheap coal and power; naphtha-based Europe and Japan are highest. US PVC export prices well below Asian levels prompted duties in Europe, the UK and Brazil.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[NaCl Salt](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [PVC PVC](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pvc/) | more than 99% of VCM |
| [DOP Plasticisers](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/plasticisers/) | used with flexible PVC |
| [Add Polymer additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polymer_additives/) | PVC heat stabilisers |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/links/index.md)