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Polyvinyl chloride is the second-largest commodity thermoplastic produced
in the world, after polypropylene. In 2005, more than 30 million metric tons
of PVC were consumed worldwide. Asia, North America and Western Europe accounted
for 87% of world PVC production in 2005. PVC is a global product, manufactured
by roughly 111 companies in approximately fifty countries.
The following pie chart shows the major producers of PVC worldwide:
PVC is the most versatile of all thermoplastics. It can be converted either
into rigid products of considerable strength and hardness or into flexible
articles when compounded with plasticizers. Rigid applications accounted for
65% of total consumption in 2005 and provide most of the growth opportunities.
The major end use is pipe and fittings; other leading rigid applications include
siding, windows, fencing and packaging sheet. Flexible PVC is used for film
and sheet, wire and cable insulation, floor coverings, synthetic leather products,
coatings and many other consumer goods.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of PVC in 2005:
PVC consumption is most influenced by the construction market, as about 60%
of world consumption is for pipe, fittings, siding, windows, fencing and other
applications. It has increasingly been used as a replacement for traditional
construction materials such as wood and metals, so its growth has been above
that experienced by the overall construction industry.
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