Everything watertight? Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used to make pipes, hoses, roofing membranes and pond liners, waterstops, window profiles, and door frames, as well as truck tarpaulins and shoe soles, for example. Although PVC is no longer the most produced plastic in the world, it is still one of the best-selling thermoplastics alongside polyethylene and polypropylene. The latest Ceresana market study on polyvinyl chloride, which is already the eighth edition, forecasts further growth for this versatile material: Until 2032, the global demand for PVC is likely to rise to approx. 58.1 million tonnes.

PVC is mainly used by the construction industry

Almost two thirds of the entire PVC production is purchased by the construction industry and used for a wide variety of applications: from floor coverings to façade cladding and roof panels, as well as seals, cables, dowels, and fastening elements. Pipes and pipelines alone, the most important PVC application, account for more than 36% of PVC consumption. This is followed by profiles with 20% and films and sheets with 18.5% of PVC use. Sewage pipes in particular are made of rigid PVC; the market for PVC pipes for potable water and industrial applications is somewhat smaller. Compared to pipes made of concrete or metal, products made of PVC are lighter, more flexible, more resistant to chemicals, and generally more durable.

Packaging made from rigid PVC and flexible PVC

After the construction sector, the second largest PVC consumer is the packaging industry, which processes around 16.7% of the PVC produced worldwide. PVC is used to produce rigid packaging, i.e. containers such as butter or yogurt pots, bottles, boxes, and lids, but also flexible packaging such as packaging films, bags and sacks, shrink and stretch films. Other everyday products made of PVC include credit cards, artificial leather, toilet seats, and brushes. PVC is used as a good electrical insulator for insulating tapes and protective coatings for pliers or other tools. Medical technology requires PVC, which is resistant to chemicals and disinfectants, e.g. for infusion bags, tubes, catheters, and gloves. Rigid PVC foams are used as a core material for fiber composites and lightweight sandwich constructions.

Current 8th edition of the market study “Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)”:

Chapter 1 provides a description and analysis of the global PVC market – including forecasts up to 2032: For each region of the world, demand in tonnes and revenues in US dollars and euros are given. Furthermore, global and regional demand per product and application area is analyzed. The following various PVC products are discussed in detail: sewage pipes, potable water pipes, other pipes, profiles, films and sheets, cables and cable sheathing, flooring, containers, other PVC products. The study also examines application areas and sectors of use for PVC: flexible packaging, rigid packaging, construction industry, transportation, electrical engineering and electronics, Industry, other applications.
Chapter 2 looks at 46 countries individually, which constitute the largest national markets for PVC. The following are shown in each case: country-specific demand, revenues, production, and trade, demand per PVC product, demand per application, revenues per application, demand per PVC type (rigid & flexible).
Chapter 3 provides useful profiles of the largest manufacturers of PVC, clearly arranged according to contact details, revenues, net income, product range, production sites, capacities, and profile summary. In-depth profiles of 70 manufacturers are given, for example of China National Chemical Corporation, Formosa Plastics Group, Ineos Holdings Ltd., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Orbia Advance Corporation, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Westlake Chemical Corporation, and Xinjiang Tianye Co., Ltd.
Further information about the 8th edition of the market study “Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - World Report”: https://ceresana.com/en/produkt/polyvinyl-chloride-market-report


About Ceresana
As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana specializes in the chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods sectors. Special focus areas are bio-economy and automotive / mobility. Since 2002, companies have benefited from high-quality industry analyses and forecasts. Over 200 market studies provide more than 10,000 clients around the world with the knowledge base for sustainable success.