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Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyvinyl Chloride Prices | Current and Forecast
Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC
(C2H3Cl)n

About Polyvinyl Chloride. Polyvinyl Chloride (a.k.a. PVC) is the third most commonly produced synthetic polymer, after Polyethylene and Polypropylene. It is a white, brittle solid and it comes in two basic forms: rigid PVC (RPVC) and flexible PVC. As one of the largest thermoplastic commodity produced, Polyvinyl Chloride is in fact a global product, used in a broad range of applications due to its remarkable versatility.

This thermoplastic commodity is prepared from the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and can be manufactured through different polymerization processes. However, most of the commercial PVC production is based on suspension polymerization processes. To a lesser extent, PVC is produced on an industrial scale via emulsion polymerization and bulk (mass) polymerization. Polyvinyl Chloride polymers can be produced with different morphologies/molecular masses, according to the intended end use. In general, PVC is produced as a particulate with two main sizes: grains (particles) with a diameter ranging from 100 - 180 μm when it is produced via suspension and mass polymerizations, and latex of particle size 0.1 - 3.0 μm when produced via emulsion polymerization.

As one of the biggest thermoplastic commodity manufactured, Polyvinyl Chloride PVC stands out due to its distinctive characteristics stemming from the presence of a bulky chlorine atom, which imparts a highly polar nature to the polymer chain. Additionally, the essentially syndiotactic conformation of the repeat unit within the chain restricts the extent of crystallinity. As a result, PVC exhibits commendable mechanical properties and impressive stiffness even in structures with low wall thickness. PVC also demonstrates a high melt viscosity at lower molecular mass and retains its advantageous mechanical properties even when subjected to significant plasticization. Conversely, PVC is considered unstable due to molecular defeats in some of its polymer chains and self-accelerating dehydrochlorination reaction when it is heated. Therefore, PVC is always combined with various additives, such as heat stabilizers, internal and external lubricants, processing aid, UV stabilizer, impact modifier, and others. In this way, PVC can be handled and applied to several end uses. Typical applications of PVC include construction fields, domestic uses, packaging, vehicles, medical equipment, and clothing.

Polyvinyl Chloride Handling. Most PVC produced is handled in bulk and as a liquid under pressure. To reach this liquid form, the PVC powder is pressurized and fluidized in blow-eggs vessels, which possess a 2-15 t capacity and are responsible for conveying the PVC liquid via pipeline to silos for storage. These silos have a typical capacity of 100-500 t. When it comes to discharge, PVC is directly released from the silos or passed through smaller loading hoppers before being loaded into 20 t road tankers, which are the preferred transportation mode for PVC. In some cases, woven polypropylene big bags are employed to transport 1-ton batches of PVC, while 20-ton ISO metal containers are utilized for long-distance deliveries. Moreover, although PVC is not a complex material to handle, it should be stored in a cool-ventilated area and must be kept away from heat and ignition sources.

Polyvinyl Chloride Production. PVC production consists of the polymerization of vinyl chloride in such a way that different PVC manufacturing routes are related to diverse sources of this monomer. In this context, the most typical PVC production routes are based on vinyl chloride produced by the reaction of ethylene with chlorine. On the other hand, the importance of Polyvinyl Chloride waste recycling is rising as an alternative PVC-obtaining process. PVC waste includes primarily scraps from the production and use of Polyvinyl Chloride. The recycling of this waste can be mechanical, in which the waste is transformed into something new without going through chemical processes; chemical, in which the waste is again inserted into the production chain to generate more PVC; or energetical, in which the intrinsic heat of the material is removed and transformed into electrical energy. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Polyvinyl Chloride are listed below.

  • Vinyl chloride (suspension polymerization),
  • Vinyl chloride (bulk polymerization),
  • Vinyl chloride (emulsion polymerization)

Polyvinyl Chloride Uses. The uses and applications of Polyvinyl Chloride may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polyvinyl Chloride are rigid (plastic with high resistance to impact extensively used in building applications) and flexible (prepared by the addition of plasticizers, which lower the crystallinity of polymer chains, yielding a more flexible plastic material used in flooring and medical products). PVC waste can be used as second-grade or higher-grade materials for noncritical applications, such as horticultural products and fencing.

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Polyvinyl Chloride Prices | Current and Forecast

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Monitor monthly Polyvinyl Chloride price assessments covering 7 locations: United States, Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, China, Northeast Asia and Middle East. Also check PVC 10-year price history and forecasts.

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Polyvinyl Chloride

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Data Legend. The chart above shows PVC price assessments in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:

  • PVC (GP), US (United States): Polyvinyl Chloride (general-purpose), export transaction price, fob, United States
  • PVC (Scrap), US (United States): Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC scrap), export transaction price, fob, United States
  • PVC (GP), EUR (Europe): Polyvinyl Chloride (general-purpose), export transaction price, fob, Germany
  • PVC (GP), SAM (South America): Polyvinyl Chloride (general-purpose), import transaction price, cif, Brazil
  • PVC (Pipe), SEA (Southeast Asia): Polyvinyl Chloride (pipe-grade), spot price, cfr, India (netforward from fob China)
  • PVC (Pipe), CN (China): Polyvinyl Chloride (pipe-grade), domestic spot price, exw, China
  • PVC (Scrap), NEA (Northeast Asia): Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC scrap), export transaction price, fob, Japan
  • PVC (GP), MDE (Middle East): Polyvinyl Chloride (general-purpose), import transaction price, cif, Turkey (netforward from fob Germany)

Data Use. PVC prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 224 commodities worldwide. Intratec's methodology employs a structured big data strategy that utilizes advanced technologies to extract publicly available data from primary sources such as governmental trade records, statistics bureaus, and international agencies. This data is then processed through mathematical models to generate reliable assessments, published at the very beginning of each month. To better understand the data provided check Intratec Primary Commodity Prices Methodology .

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Polyvinyl Chloride Price Outlook. The price of PVC (GP, United States) decreased during April 2019 to 851 USD per metric ton, which represents a slight decline of 0.1% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, the prices of PVC (GP, United States) decreased by 7%. Meanwhile, the average price of PVC (Pipe, China) amounted to 1,020 USD per metric ton, from 1,060 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the price of PVC (Pipe, China) is 6% higher than the price one month before.

The price of PVC (GP, Southeast Asia) declined slightly throughout April 2019, reaching 918 USD per metric ton.  The price is 1% lower than the average price in the previous month and 6% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, the prices of PVC (GP, Middle East) increased modestly during April 2019, reaching 1,130 USD per metric ton, which means a rise of 2% from the previous month’s price and a decline of 12% from the previous year’s price. 

The prices of PVC (GP, Europe) experienced a modest rise of 20 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,090 USD per metric ton. Such price movement meant a rise of 2% on a monthly basis and a decrease of 13% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in April 2019, the price of PVC (GP, South America) witnessed a decline of 21 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 903 USD per metric ton. The April 2019 price is 11% lower than the price one year before. 

About Polyvinyl Chloride. Polyvinyl Chloride (a.k.a. PVC) is the third most commonly produced synthetic polymer, after Polyethylene and Polypropylene. It is a white, brittle solid and it comes in two basic forms: rigid PVC (RPVC) and flexible PVC. As one of the largest thermoplastic commodity produced, Polyvinyl Chloride is in fact a global product, used in a broad range of applications due to its remarkable versatility.

This thermoplastic commodity is prepared from the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and can be manufactured through different polymerization processes. However, most of the commercial PVC production is based on suspension polymerization processes. To a lesser extent, PVC is produced on an industrial scale via emulsion polymerization and bulk (mass) polymerization. Polyvinyl Chloride polymers can be produced with different morphologies/molecular masses, according to the intended end use. In general, PVC is produced as a particulate with two main sizes: grains (particles) with a diameter ranging from 100 - 180 μm when it is produced via suspension and mass polymerizations, and latex of particle size 0.1 - 3.0 μm when produced via emulsion polymerization.

As one of the biggest thermoplastic commodity manufactured, Polyvinyl Chloride PVC stands out due to its distinctive characteristics stemming from the presence of a bulky chlorine atom, which imparts a highly polar nature to the polymer chain. Additionally, the essentially syndiotactic conformation of the repeat unit within the chain restricts the extent of crystallinity. As a result, PVC exhibits commendable mechanical properties and impressive stiffness even in structures with low wall thickness. PVC also demonstrates a high melt viscosity at lower molecular mass and retains its advantageous mechanical properties even when subjected to significant plasticization. Conversely, PVC is considered unstable due to molecular defeats in some of its polymer chains and self-accelerating dehydrochlorination reaction when it is heated. Therefore, PVC is always combined with various additives, such as heat stabilizers, internal and external lubricants, processing aid, UV stabilizer, impact modifier, and others. In this way, PVC can be handled and applied to several end uses. Typical applications of PVC include construction fields, domestic uses, packaging, vehicles, medical equipment, and clothing.

Polyvinyl Chloride Handling. Most PVC produced is handled in bulk and as a liquid under pressure. To reach this liquid form, the PVC powder is pressurized and fluidized in blow-eggs vessels, which possess a 2-15 t capacity and are responsible for conveying the PVC liquid via pipeline to silos for storage. These silos have a typical capacity of 100-500 t. When it comes to discharge, PVC is directly released from the silos or passed through smaller loading hoppers before being loaded into 20 t road tankers, which are the preferred transportation mode for PVC. In some cases, woven polypropylene big bags are employed to transport 1-ton batches of PVC, while 20-ton ISO metal containers are utilized for long-distance deliveries. Moreover, although PVC is not a complex material to handle, it should be stored in a cool-ventilated area and must be kept away from heat and ignition sources.

Polyvinyl Chloride Production. PVC production consists of the polymerization of vinyl chloride in such a way that different PVC manufacturing routes are related to diverse sources of this monomer. In this context, the most typical PVC production routes are based on vinyl chloride produced by the reaction of ethylene with chlorine. On the other hand, the importance of Polyvinyl Chloride waste recycling is rising as an alternative PVC-obtaining process. PVC waste includes primarily scraps from the production and use of Polyvinyl Chloride. The recycling of this waste can be mechanical, in which the waste is transformed into something new without going through chemical processes; chemical, in which the waste is again inserted into the production chain to generate more PVC; or energetical, in which the intrinsic heat of the material is removed and transformed into electrical energy. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Polyvinyl Chloride are listed below.

  • Vinyl chloride (suspension polymerization),
  • Vinyl chloride (bulk polymerization),
  • Vinyl chloride (emulsion polymerization)

Polyvinyl Chloride Uses. The uses and applications of Polyvinyl Chloride may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polyvinyl Chloride are rigid (plastic with high resistance to impact extensively used in building applications) and flexible (prepared by the addition of plasticizers, which lower the crystallinity of polymer chains, yielding a more flexible plastic material used in flooring and medical products). PVC waste can be used as second-grade or higher-grade materials for noncritical applications, such as horticultural products and fencing.

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