# Vinyl chloride monomer: Production

Why China and the US Gulf dominate supply

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

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; indicative

#### Largest 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](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262823/000126282326000016/wlk-20251231.htm) |
| **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](https://www.offshore-technology.com/?p=90685) |
| **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](https://www.ril.com) |
| **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. |

## 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)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vcm/feedstocks/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)