PVC Sheets and Other Flat Products: Current Global Trade Trends

Nearly 800,000 tons of sheet and other flat products (film, foil and strip) made from PVC were traded globally in 2014, up 3% from the prior year. Trade volume through June of 2015 was down 3%, based on reporting countries. Global trade volume is an indicator of global demand.

China is the world’s largest exporter of these fabricated PVC products, shipping 217,000 tons in 2014, up 16%. China exported to markets all over the globe, the top export destinations in 2014 including: Russia, US, India, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.  Shipments through June 2015 were 112,000 tons, up 7%, volume reaching new record highs in the second quarter. Top markets through the latest period were US, Russia, India, Turkey,  Vietnam and Philippines.

Other leading exporters of flat PVC products include France, Germany, Italy, US, South Korea and Taiwan.

Leading volume and growth import markets in 2014 included: Italy, Turkey, Russia, Poland, US, Mexico, Brazil, Iran, UAE, Vietnam, Philippines and Australia.

The drop in global trade volume through June 2015  reflected lower imports into Western Europe and Eastern Europe plus lower trade within those regions and also within North America and Asia-Pacific. Imports into Latin America and the Middle East continued strong, each up about 17% YTD.

From International Trader Publications’: PVC Sheets and Other Flat Products World Trade Report