Region

Production/Capacity in 1,000 tons/year

1980^b

1985^b

1990^b

1995^c

1998^d

World capacity

16,000

17,000

20,700

26,400

~27,000

Production

11,750

14,200

18,300

North America total

3,200

3,390

4,700

6,070

Suspension and mass

2,810

2,990

Vinyl acetate copolymer

200

210

Emulsion

190

190

Western Europe total

3,900

4,330

4,800

5,750

~5,600

Suspension and mass

33,350

3,700

Vinyl acetate copolymer

130

130

Emulsion

420

500

Eastern Europe

925

1,100

1,200

2,700^e

Soviet Union

370

700

760

Japan

1,400

1,550

2,070

8,200^f

Southeastern Asia

330

600

900

People's Republic of China

150

400

790

South America

400

540

780

Rest of World

1,075

1,590

2,300

3,680

^aApproximate VC production/capacity.
^bAllsopp MW, Vianello G. Poly(vinyl)chloride. 
In: Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry: 
Plastics, Properties and Testing to Polyvinyl Compounds, 
5th ed, Vol A21 (Elvers B, Hawkins S, Schulz G, eds). 
Weinheim, Germany: VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 1992;717-742.
^cRehm T, Werner R. Polyvinylchloride [in German]. 
Kunststoffe 86:1474-1476 (1996).
^dPersonal communication, European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers
^eIncluding former Soviet Union
^fTotal for Asia

Source:
Kielhorn, Janet, C.Melber, U.Wahnschaffe, A.Aitio, and I.Mangelsdorf. 
Vinyl Chloride: Still a Cause for Concern. 
Environmental Health Perspectives v. 108, n. 7, July 2000