Global demand for PVC exceeds 35 million tonnes per annum. Around 8 million tonnes of PVC products, with a market value of around €70 billion (including products for export), are produced within Europe each year, consuming some 6.5 million tonnes of PVC resin.  The industry, from resin manufacturing to the production of final products, employs over half a million people.

• Resin Producers: 15 companies, all of whom are members of ECVM, account for 100% of total EU27 PVC resin production. These businesses operate around 50 plants on 40 sites and employ approximately 10,000 people.
• Stabiliser Producers: 11 companies - all members of Vinyl 2010 via ESPA - produce more than 98% of the stabilisers sold in Europe. They employ some 5,000 people.
• Plasticisers Producers: the 8 major European producers employ approximately 1,200 people.
• PVC Converters: The conversion of PVC into final home and industrial products involves more than 21,000 companies, mostly Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) employing over half a million people.

Applications

PVC touches all our lives, every day, through products in:

• Medical Applications
• Transport
• Building and Construction
• Toys
• Consumer Goods and Everyday Life
• Packaging
• Art and Design
• Cables