Bulgaria, August 13,2019- The North American vinyl chloride market was equal to 7.632 million tons in 2013. The largest country market within the region was the United States, which in 2013 accounted for a share of 90% of the total in volume terms. Until 2023, the North American market is forecast to reach around 9.4 million tons, thus growing at a CAGR of about 2.4% per annum in the period 2018-2023. This is a slight increase, compared to the growth at a CAGR of around 1.5% per year, registered in 2013-2017.

The North American production of vinyl chloride is likely to grow to around 10.2 million tons in the medium term. Upward dynamics of the overall installed production capacities in the region are also expected. However, their annual average utilization rates are projected to stay flat. In addition, the market is forecast to remain relatively balanced in terms of supply and demand, also showing moderately upwards dynamics in the medium term.

Vinyl chloride is highly dependent on the development of end-use markets such as construction and piping industries, since as the most commonly used thermoplastic, PVC is being utilized in the production of a variety of products, such as pipes and fittings, wires and cables, sheets, blow molded bottles, windows, doors, roofing, automotive parts. One of the leading trends on the market is connected with the continuous improvements of the manufacturing technology, prompted by the emerging safety and environmental requirements. Commercial production of vinyl chloride was initially based on the catalytic hydrochlorination of acetylene. However, this route requires high energy costs and is now obsolete everywhere but in China where ample coal supplies have kept the cheap alternative in business. Presently, more than 90% of the global vinyl chloride production outside of China is based on ethylene. What is more, most of the modern vinyl chloride plants use integrated processes, which combine endothermic and exothermic reactions, resulting in an almost energy balanced operation.

The insights are from a recently published report about the North American vinyl chloride market. As an overall, the report presents a strategic analysis of the vinyl chloride market in North America and a forecast for its development in the medium term. It provides a comprehensive overview of the market, its dynamics, structure, characteristics, main players, production capacities, trends, prices, production, imports, exports, growth and demand drivers, and all other important factors, influencing its development. The report focuses on both product and country breakdown, offering a larger perspective on the regional market dynamics as well as information on each individual country within the region.

The research report has been prepared using the unique Williams and Marshall Strategy’s methodology, including a blend of qualitative and quantitative data. The information comes from official sources and insights from market experts (representatives of the main market participants), gathered by semi-structured interviews. This report will allow its readers to quickly and cost–effectively get a strategic analysis and gain competitive intelligence about the market and to track market data, including size, value, segmentation, forecasts, dynamics and structure – past, present and future. In addition, the readers will be able to strategically assess the competitive position of the main market players, explore and identify new market opportunities in the countries within the region, recognize key market trends, opportunities and threats and key drivers behind recent market changes as well as strategically evaluate market growth potential.

The report includes information on the following companies:

• Americas Styrenics;

• Cos-Mar;

• Ineos Styrolution;

• Lyondellbasell Industries;

• Westlake Styrene Monomer;

• Shell Canada Ltd.;

• Pemex Petroquimica.