Export prices of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in Asia are rising. In China, a supply shortage in July stemming from the implementation of environmental regulations has caused domestic prices to escalate. Against this backdrop, a major Taiwanese manufacturer offered its customers in the region a $20-per-ton increase for August shipments, with all parties agreeing to the...
PVC
SCG to Invest in Vietnam’s First Cracker Complex
Thai-based Siam Cement Group (SCG) recently announced that it has decided to invest in the construction of a petrochemical complex in southern Vietnam. The construction project includes several polyolefin facilities and a cracker that can utilize a number of raw materials, such as local ethane and imported propane and naphtha. A construction contractor will be...
Shin-Etsu US Subsidiary Shows Solid Performance Growth
Shintech Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4063), is boosting profitability. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturer’s ordinary income for the fiscal year ending December 2016 grew to $385 million (41.9 billion yen), up 19.6 percent over the previous year. Shintech’s recurring profit margin rose for the first time in three years, and...
Lonseal Develops Thinnest Rigid PVC Film in the Industry
Lonseal Corp. (TYO:4224) has developed the industry’s thinnest rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, measuring only 20 micrometers thick. The film complies with such standards as REACH and RoHS because it is plasticizer-free and its stabilizers contain no cadmium or lead. The company will sell it as a construction materials solution for mounting decorative film or...
Mitsubishi Chemical Develops PVC Substitute for Medical Tubing
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. has developed a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer for use in medical tubing used to administer fluids by intravenous drip. Featuring excellent transparency, the material can be formed into tubes designed to be bent acutely without impeding fluid flow. The new TPS is also more than four times as amenable to tube formation...
Sun Ace Continues Overseas Expansion of PVC Stabilizer Business
Sun Ace Corp., a global leader in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilizers, is continuing its business expansion in overseas markets. The company has made the decision to bolster annual production in Saudi Arabi to 7,000 tons by the third quarter of 2017. In China, the company plans to begin production from mid-2017 of a calcium–zinc (Ca-Zn)...
Japanese PVC Production Increases 2.5% in 2016
Japan in 2016 produced 1.6165 million tons of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), according to the Vinyl Environmental Council (VEC). This marked a year-on-year increase of 2.5 percent, bolstered by strong exports to India. Product shipped in 2016 was 1.595667 million tons for a year-on-year increase of 1.3 percent, with domestic shipping at 1.011 million tons, a...
Tosoh to Double Its Polyvinyl Chloride Resin Production in the Philippines
Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) has formally decided to double its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production capacity in the Philippines, where increased infrastructure investment is expected to boost demand. The plan calls for new construction that will expand the production facilities of a local affiliate, adding 110,000 tons to Tosoh’s group production capacity in the Philippines. Scheduled to...
Polyvinyl Chloride Exports Weighed Down by India’s New Banknote Regulations
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports for November 2016 decreased 11.2 percent compared with the same month of the previous year, dropping to 47,529 tons. This marks the first time in four months that export volume has dipped below 50,000 tons. A reason for the decline is India’s ban on large-denomination banknotes, explains Vinyl Environmental Council (VEC)...
Taiyo Vinyl to Raise PVC Price for First Hike in Three Years
Taiyo Vinyl Corp., a leading Japanese maker of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), will raise the price of the polymer. The new rate will be 20 yen ($0.18) per kilogram, with the change to take effect for deliveries beginning April 1, 2017. This move marks the company’s first price hike since November 2013. Healthy demand for PVC...
India’s Withdrawal of High-Denomination Banknotes Disrupts Chemical Industry
India’s move on Nov. 9 to scrap its highest denomination banknotes, the 1,000 rupee ($14.59) and 500 rupee bills, has caused major disruption to a domestic chemicals market that mainly relies on cash trades. The government’s action is aimed at cracking down on counterfeit bills, which has contributed to inflation, and tax avoidance through illegal...
Japanese Demand for PVC Expected to Increase
There is a sense of hope developing that Japanese demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is bottoming out, with domestic demand having stopped falling after two consecutive years of decline. In addition, with the passage of the fiscal 2016 second supplementary budget, demand is expected to increase for uses such as pipes and interiors for public...
Korean Government Encourages Industrial Restructuring Amid Petrochemical Oversupply
A structural reform of the petrochemical industry in South Korea is on the horizon. In addition to encouraging voluntary adjustments to production capacity, the South Korean government is placing emphasis on high-performance products such as synthetic resins and synthetic rubber, and is planning to promote industrial upgrades to the existing petrochemical hubs that are Ulsan,...
Mitsubishi to Expand Its Chemicals Business in the US
Mitsubishi Corp. (TYO:8058) will expand its chemicals business in the U.S., with more opportunities to import and export polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene and polyethylene resins due to an increase in the production of petrochemicals that use low cost raw materials derived from shale gas taking hold in fiscal 2017. Mitsubishi will also strengthen its logistics...
