PVC is one of the most cost-effective plastics - and, along with polypropylene and polyethylene, also the most widely used. Ceresana has analyzed the growing market for PVC for the sixth time: The analysts expect the demand for this both robust and versatile material to increase to around 57 million tonnes worldwide by 2030.

Main applications are building products and packaging

The construction industry is expected to remain the most important market for PVC in the future, accounting for around two-thirds of the global demand. Examples of PVC applications in the construction industry include pipes, window frames, doors and covers, panels, cables and cable sheathing, dowels, screws, fasteners and coatings. Flooring also accounts for a significant share of global PVC demand. The second largest market is the packaging industry, which uses PVC for flexible and rigid packaging, with a share of nearly 16.5%. The most important applications include packaging films, bags and sacks, and shrink and stretch films. Rigid packaging includes containers such as butter or yogurt pots, bottles, boxes as well as lids. Other industrial uses of PVC include shoe soles, coatings and medical products such as infusion bags.

Pipes for waste water, potable water and industry

In 2020, pipes and pipelines were the most important PVC products with a share of over 37%. They were followed by profiles (20.3%) and films and sheets (17.3%). PVC offers significant advantages for the production of sewage pipes: The weight drops dramatically compared to pipes made of concrete or metal. PVC is also resistant to many chemicals and corrosion. Worldwide, more than 7.1 million tonnes of PVC were processed into sewage pipes last year. The market for PVC potable water pipes is somewhat smaller. The requirements for this market are different from those for sewage water, and the legal requirements for drinking water pipes are often very high, especially in highly developed industrialized countries. PVC pipes are at an advantage here with their insensitivity to UV radiation, chlorine and ozone.

Rigid PVC and flexible PVC in one study

Chapter 1 provides a presentation and analysis of the global market for PVC - including forecasts up to 2030: demand and revenue are explained for each region of the world. Additionally, the demand is analyzed both by product and by application area.
The various PVC products are examined in detail: Pipes (sewage, potable water, others), Profiles, Films and Sheets, Cables and Cable sheathing, Flooring, Containers and other products. Further, the study examines the application areas of PVC: Flexible packaging, Rigid packaging, Construction, Vehicles, Electronics, Industry and other sectors. In Chapter 2, 46 countries are examined individually. Country-specific demand, revenue, production, capacities and trading, demand per PVC product and application, as well as demand per PVC type (rigid and flexible) are depicted. Chapter 3 provides useful company profiles of the most significant manufacturers of PVC, clearly arranged by contact details, revenue, profit, product range, production facilities, capacities and brief profile. Detailed profiles are provided for 81 manufacturers.
Further information about the market study Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC (6th edition): https://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/polyvinyl-chloride/


About Ceresana
As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana specializes in the chemicals, plastics, packaging and industrial goods sectors, with a focus on 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.