Procurement of PVC benefits buyers from several end-use sectors, such as construction, packaging, automotive, electronics, and healthcare, due to its versatility and abundant applications in these sectors. The global market size was estimated at USD 54.6 billion in 2023. In 2023, APAC dominated the industry, comprising 38% of the global market share in 2023. Countries such as India, China, and Japan are the key contributors to APAC’s growth, prompting supply chain managers to foster their strategies. Key driving factors for other regions, such as North America and Europe, include the substantial presence of key players and technological advancements in manufacturing. Moreover, this is an important material in shock-absorbing automotive components, and sales of automobiles in the aforesaid regions are forecasted to rise exponentially during the next few years.

In 2024, the PVC industry has been significantly impacted by challenges such as raw material price volatility, prohibited usage in green buildings, intense competition from steel and concrete pipes, and health hazards. For instance, the prices of key raw materials used in the production of this commodity, including ethylene and chlorine, are witnessing market fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and changes in energy prices. Moreover, green building certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and other sustainable building standards are increasingly restricting the use of this commodity due to environmental and health concerns.

Key technology trends that are driving the growth include Oriented Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC-O) technology, nanotechnology integration, IoT-integrated pipes, use of hybrid materials, compounding, 3D printing, and climate-resilient designs. Nanotechnology integration is revolutionizing this industry by enhancing material properties through nanocomposites. Innovations like ‘NanoVinyl’ integrate nanomaterials to improve strength and durability while preserving flexibility. Compounding involves enhancing basic resin by adding plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, pigments, and lubricants. These components influence properties, including flexibility, color, thermal stability, and resistance to UV light and chemicals.

Order your copy of the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Procurement Intelligence Report, 2024 - 2030, published by Grand View Research, to get more details regarding day one, quick wins, portfolio analysis, key negotiation strategies of key suppliers, and low-cost/best-cost sourcing analysis

Key suppliers compete based on pricing, customization, lead time reduction, improving customer service, and enhancing brand reputation. Moreover, they emphasize product quality, use of sustainable materials, innovations, durability and R&D as buyers consider these parameters while sourcing PVC.

The prices of products in this industry fluctuate based on several parameters, including raw material price fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, labor cost variations, fluxes in energy costs, quality, and demand. For instance, various grades of PVC resin serve specific applications and come with different price tags. Premium, impact-resistant PVC commonly used in pipes tends to be more expensive than general-purpose grades. Moreover, resin pricing is significantly impacted by crude oil costs (due to crude oil being a key component used in manufacturing). When crude oil prices rise, resin prices tend to follow a similar trend.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in supply chains caused global prices to surge temporarily. In response, many governments reduced import duties to stabilize prices. Consequently, PVC imports increased during the pandemic. By 2023, the supply-demand situation somewhat stabilized, although global demand remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels due to a slower-than-anticipated economic resurgence.

PVC Sourcing Intelligence Highlights

• This market consists of a fragmented landscape, with the players engaged in intense competition.

• Owing to the availability of substitutes, buyers have substantial bargaining power and the flexibility to switch to alternative suppliers.

• China, India, and Vietnam are preferred as low-cost or best-cost countries for sourcing due to their low costs of raw materials, cheap labor costs, inexpensive equipment cost, and high domestic production volume.

• The key components of the cost structure include raw materials (such as ethylene and chlorine), labor, equipment, energy, packaging, transportation, and other costs. Other costs include R&D, rent and utilities, compliance, general and administrative, sales and marketing, and taxes.

Browse through Grand View Research’s collection of procurement intelligence studies:

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Procurement Intelligence Report, 2024 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

• Methanol Procurement Intelligence Report, 2023 - 2030 (Revenue Forecast, Supplier Ranking & Matrix, Emerging Technologies, Pricing Models, Cost Structure, Engagement & Operating Model, Competitive Landscape)

PVC - Key Suppliers

• Arkema S.A.

• Formosa Plastics Corporation

• INEOS AG

• KEM ONE SAS

• LG Chem, Ltd.

• Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation

• Occidental Petroleum Corporation

• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

• Sinochem Holdings Corporation Ltd.

• Solvay S.A.

• Westlake Corporation

• Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co., Ltd.

PVC Procurement Intelligence Report Scope

• Growth Rate: CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2030

• Pricing Growth Outlook: 5% - 10% increase (Annually)

• Pricing Models: Cost-plus pricing, volume-based pricing, demand-based pricing, competition-based pricing

• Supplier Selection Scope: Cost and pricing, past engagements, productivity, geographical presence

• Supplier Selection Criteria: Geographical service provision, industries served, years in service, employee strength, revenue generated, key clientele, regulatory certifications, product type (unplasticized / chlorinated / molecularly-oriented / modified), product source (chemical-based / bio-based), delivery mode (offline / online), customer service, lead time, and others

• Report Coverage: Revenue forecast, supplier ranking, supplier matrix, emerging technology, pricing models, cost structure, competitive landscape, growth factors, trends, engagement, and operating model