How are global VCM capacity closures reshaping supply and pricing for PVC makers?

How are global VCM capacity closures reshaping supply and pricing for PVC makers?
Westlake's December decision to shutter three US vinyl chloride assets, including a 413,000-tonne VCM plant and a 450,000-tonne suspension PVC facility, marks a significant supply-side adjustment. The company will continue serving customers from seven other North American VCM/PVC sites but exits styrene entirely. This consolidation follows broader chemical industry restructuring, with firms like Eastman cutting jobs and Clariant closing Swiss operations. For PVC buyers, reduced VCM availability in the US Gulf could tighten feedstock supply for merchant sellers, while integrated producers gain cost advantages. The closures reflect weak demand and high energy costs in mature markets, but they also remove marginal capacity that previously pressured prices. Asian producers, especially those with coal-based acetylene routes, may see export opportunities if US production cuts tighten global balances.