Vinyl chloride monomer: Production
Why China and the US Gulf dominate supply
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 55-57 Mt a year (2024-2025) | GlobalData forecasts via Offshore Technology (54.8 Mt for 2024, 57.1 Mt for 2025) | |
| World output | about 47 Mt (2024-2025, indicative) | indicative (basis: PVC output) | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 80-85% (indicative) | Weak PVC demand in China and Europe since 2023 has kept rates low; Westlake closed Lake Charles North VCM (about 0.41 Mt) and the Aberdeen PVC plant. | Westlake 10-K FY2025; indicative |
| Concentration | China about 45%; top-3 countries about 72% (indicative) | Outside China a handful of firms dominate: Shin-Etsu, Westlake, Formosa, OxyVinyls, Inovyn, Orbia, Kem One and Vynova. | Westlake 10-K FY2025 (competitor list); indicative |
| New capacity | GlobalData expected 57.1 Mt by 2025 from 51.9 Mt in 2020; new Middle East and Indian projects to 2028 | China additions about 2.3 Mt (Guangxi Huayi Qinzhou and others); North America about 1.7 Mt (Shintech Plaquemine 3; Westlake Geismar); Poland ANWIL Wloclawek 0.1 Mt; TA'ZIZ UAE EDC/VCM/PVC 1.3 Mt/yr complex due 4Q2028. Large Indian PVC projects by Reliance and Adani are announced (sizes and dates not checked). | GlobalData via Offshore Technology 2021; Argus Nov 2025 |
Top producing countries
China 45% · about 25 Mt capacity (indicative) United States 16% · about 9 Mt capacity (indicative) Europe 11% · about 6 Mt (indicative) Japan 5% · about 3 Mt (indicative) Taiwan 4% · about 2 Mt (indicative) South Korea 3% · about 1.5 Mt (indicative) indicative (basis: China PVC capacity); indicative; Westlake 3.46 Mt in North America and Europe; indicativeLargest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westlake North America 6.1 bn lb, Europe 1.6 bn lb; includes 600 million lb Geismar expansion | US | 3.46 Mt VCM capacity (7,630 million lb) | Feb 2026 | Westlake 10-K FY2025 |
| Shin-Etsu Chemical (Shintech) largest PVC producer (indicative); Plaquemine VCM Plant 3 | Japan/US | not published | 2025 | GlobalData (leading additions) |
| Formosa Plastics Group not published here | Taiwan/US | not published | 2025 | GlobalData (leading additions) |
| OxyVinyls (OxyChem, Berkshire Hathaway) not published here | US | not published | 2025 | Westlake 10-K competitor list |
| INEOS Inovyn not published here | UK/Europe | not published | 2025 | Westlake 10-K competitor list |
| Tianjin Bohai Chemical Industry among leaders in planned additions | China | not published | 2024 | GlobalData via Offshore Technology |
| Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical large carbide-route producer (indicative) | China | not published | 2025 | not published here |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Industries India's largest PVC maker; ethylene-based EDC/VCM at Dahej and Hazira | India | not published | 2025 | not published here |
| Chemplast Sanmar Cuddalore PVC; relies on imported VCM (indicative) | India | not published | 2025 | S&P Global Feb 2026 (petitioner) |
| Finolex Industries Ratnagiri PVC from imported VCM (indicative) | India | not published | 2025 | not published here |
| DCW Sahupuram PVC | India | not published | 2025 | S&P Global Feb 2026 (petitioner) |
| DCM Shriram Kota PVC (carbide route, indicative) | India | not published | 2025 | S&P Global Feb 2026 (petitioner) |
India's PVC capacity was 1.6-1.8 Mt against about 4.1 Mt of demand (polymerupdate, Aug 2025). India imported 1.17 Mt of suspension PVC from China alone in 2025, 47% of suspension imports. Several Indian PVC plants run on imported VCM or EDC; VCM import volumes are not published here.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Low-cost ethane and chlorine; exporter of EDC, VCM and PVC. Faces EU anti-dumping duty of 58.0%, UK 56.01% and Brazil 43.7% on PVC (Westlake 10-K). |
| EU | High-cost; closures; uses duties to defend PVC. |
| India | Import-dependent for VCM and PVC; trade remedy cases dominate pricing. |
| China | About 45% of capacity, about 70% carbide-based (indicative); VAT export rebate on PVC revoked from 1 April 2026. |
| Japan | Exporter of VCM and EDC to Asia (indicative). |
| Middle East | Growing exporter via TA'ZIZ and Saudi projects. |