SolVin lifts force majeure on Europe PVC production

29 July 2009 15:31  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Major European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturer SolVin has lifted its force majeure on PVC production, a company source said on Wednesday.

“The force majeure was lifted earlier this week and we still have reduced VCM rates...but are operating the PVC facility at normal levels [for the time of year],” said the source.

The force majeure, which lasted close to four weeks, was declared at the 240,000 tonne/year PVC and 255,000 tonne/year VCM facility in Rheinberg, Germany, as the company struggled to bring the site back up to higher operating rates following a failed restart. 

While a PVC buyer was hopeful that the improved availability would give more flexibility to consumers who were struggling to find material in the snug market, a seller highlighted that the collapsing caustic soda market - a by-product of upstream chlorine - would keep chlorine, and subsequently PVC, operating rates low.

The above plant capacities are according to ICIS plants and projects
For more on PVC, VCM and caustic soda visit ICIS chemical intelligence
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By: Stephanie Wilson
+44 20 8652 3214

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