PVDF demand to increase chlor-alkali consumption
PVDF demand to increase chlor-alkali consumption
The demand growth of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is dependent on lithium-ion batteries for battery-operated electric vehicle (EV) demand and stationery electrical storage. Argus forecasts global lithium-ion battery demand in EVs to reach 3.8GWh by 2034 from 0.7GWh in 2023. EV sales are expected to rise at an average growth rate of 10pc in the next 10 years reaching more than 46mn units.
Global caustic soda demand into battery materials for leading regions is shown in the figure. Argus’s latest caustic soda analytics forecast explains an exponential rise in caustic soda consumption for battery material processing. Global caustic soda consumption in the processing of lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, cathode materials and recycled black mass was at 1.5mn dmt in 2023 and is expected to reach 3mn dmt in 2033 at a CAGR of 10pc in the first five years.
The relationship between chlor-alkali products and battery materials is gaining focus in the market. With increasing Lithium-based battery capacity globally, demand for associated battery materials is expected to rise. Among the other components of the Li-ion battery stack, PVDF plays an important role as a binder and separator coating, optimizing energy storage efficiency and reducing battery weight in EVs.
PVDF utilizes caustic soda and chlorine in its production at different stages. Primary feedstock includes vinylidene chloride or vinylidene fluoride, which are derivatives of caustic soda and chlorine.
Some significant developments in PVDF capacity are taking place in North America and Northeast Asia. Belgian chemical company Solvay entered into a joint venture with Mexico-based PVC producer Orbia to build the largest production facility of battery-grade suspension PVDF in North America with a capacity of 20,000 t/yr. Commercial production is expected to start in 2026 and the expected caustic soda and chlorine demand can be 8,000 t/yr and 12,000 t/yr respectively.
Solvay has doubled its capacity in Changshu, China in the past five years and raised its capacity in France by 35pc reaching 35,000 t/yr making it the largest production site in Europe. Another major producer French chemical company Arkema increased production capacity by 50pc last year at its Changshu site in China.
Japan-based producer Kureha is undergoing expansion at its Iwaki site in Japan, having a production capacity of 6,500 t/yr. The expansion is in two phases, first is a new capacity of 8,000 t/yr and another 2,000 t/yr in the second phase by debottlenecking resulting in a total capacity of 20,000 t/yr by 2026.
This article was created using data and insight from Argus Caustic Soda Analytics and Argus Battery Materials.
Related products
Spotlight content
Related news
US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR
US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR
Houston, 9 September (Argus) — US rail carload volumes rose in August to the highest level in nearly eight years while weekly rail traffic rose by nearly 14pc from a year earlier, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. AAR attributed the increases to resilient US consumer demand, higher US manufacturing activity, and rising diesel costs, which have made rail shipments more cost-effective compared with competing transport options such as trucks. Class I railroads shipped 533,545 carloads and intermodal units over the week ended 5 September, up by 14pc compared with the same week last year, AAR said Wednesday. Weekly non-intermodal traffic averaged more than 235,000 railcars in August, the most since October 2019 and the eighth straight year-over-year gain. Railcar growth was broad-based and stretched across 15 of the 20 carload categories that the AAR tracks. On a monthly basis, Class I railroads shipped nearly 300,000 intermodal containers and trailers per week in August, up by more than 4pc from a year earlier and besting the previous record set in June. Combined US carload and intermodal volume in August was the most in nearly eight years, AAR said without providing specifics. Metallic ore shipments posted the biggest percentage gains in August, rising by 19pc from a year earlier, followed by a 16pc increase for coke, a nearly 16pc gain for lumber and wood products and a 9.1pc increase for petroleum products. Chemicals shipments logged the seventh increase in eight months and are on a record annual pace, the AAR said, driven in part to lower US natural gas prices that have incentivized output at petrochemical and other industrial plants. Shipments of grain and coal, the two biggest categories that Class I railroads haul by volume, diverged. Grain shipments grew by 7.8pc in August from a year earlier and were up for the tenth straight month, driven by strong grain exports. Coal volumes in August fell by 2pc from year-earlier levels and were down for the sixth straight month, AAR said. Coal has become a drag on overall rail volumes after driving growth earlier in 2026. Several Class I railroads have attributed falling coal volumes to lower natural gas prices and weaker utility demand. Railed coal traffic has fallen by more than 50pc over the past 20 years but remains the single highest-volume category for most US railroads, AAR said. AAR also pointed to falling inventories of railcars in storage as another sign of strong shipping demand. Stored railcars as a share of total cars in service fell to 18.1pc in August from 21.7pc in January, and more than 59,000 railcars have been taken out of storage over that period, AAR said. By Chris Baltimore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's August soybean oil exports rise 31pc
Brazil's August soybean oil exports rise 31pc
Sao Paulo, 4 September (Argus) — Brazil's August soybean oil exports increased by 31pc from a year earlier to nearly 206,648 metric tonnes (t), driven by stronger Indian demand. January-August exports increased by 42pc from a year earlier to around 1.57mn t. India was the leading destination, accounting for nearly 176,683t, or 85pc of total Brazilian soybean oil exports in August. Increased international demand for Brazilian soybean oil comes as buyers switch to soybean oil cargos after palm oil prices surged following higher biodiesel blending mandates in Indonesia and Malaysia. This brought Latin American soybean oil into focus among Asian vegetable oil importers. At this rate, Brazil's soybean oil shipments could reach 2mn t in 2026, according to grain processing companies' estimates, higher than the 1.7mn t projected from Brazil's association of vegetable oil industries Abiove. Beef tallow exports Brazil's August tallow exports fell by approximately 37pc year-on-year to 40,600t. January-August exports dropped by 35pc from the same period in 2025 to around 231,800t. The decline was largely driven lower volumes to the US, the main overseas destination for Brazil's beef tallow. Higher tariffs and uncertainty over trade policy have reduced buying interest and disrupted established trade flows. Market participants expect exports of beef tallow to decline further in the coming months, as most of the volumes shipped recently were negotiated before the new tariffs imposed by the administration of US president Donald Trump took effect. The limited quantities still expected to be exported to the US are likely to move under duty drawback provisions, which allow tariffs paid on imported inputs to be refunded under certain conditions. Biodiesel exports Brazil exported approximately 7,400t of biodiesel in August, down by 45pc from the same month a year earlier. Cumulative exports for January-August totaled about 73,130t, up by 6pc from the corresponding period in 2025. Monthly export volumes are driven not only by overseas demand and arbitrage opportunities, but also by the availability of biodiesel produced from low-carbon feedstocks. This is particularly important for Europe, the primary destination for Brazilian biodiesel exports, where fuel must meet sustainability criteria to qualify for greenhouse gas reduction credits and other renewable fuel incentives. By Beatriz Pacheco and Natalia Dalle Cort Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US ethane exports hit new peak in Aug: Kpler
US ethane exports hit new peak in Aug: Kpler
Houston, 4 September (Argus) — US ethane exports reached a new record high of 814,000 b/d in August, data from vessel-tracking service Kpler show. The gains, which follow earlier expansions at Enterprise's and Energy Transfer's export terminals, are up from 620,000 b/d in July. The bulk of exports, or 618,000 b/d, shipped to China, as increases in ethane-derived ethylene capacity and higher naphtha prices in the region bolstered demand. Shipments to India, meanwhile fell versus July to 53,000 b/d, but were steady year-on-year. Ethane loadings bound for Europe fell from 82,000 b/d to 77,000 b/d between July and August, the lowest shipments to that region since December 2022, owing to lower ethylene prices there. Ethane shipments from Enterprise's Morgan's Point terminal near La Porte, Texas, hit a record 332,000 b/d, well over the nameplate capacity at the facility. Ethane loadings out of Enterprise's Neches River terminal rose to 188,000 b/d in August. Energy Transfer's Nederland, Texas, terminal, shipped 217,000 b/d. Energy Transfer's Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, terminal shipped 77,000 b/d of ethane in August. Ethane prices at Mont Belvieu, Texas, in dollar-per-tonne terms, averaged a $190.71/t discount to propane in August, the narrowest spread since February. By Joseph Barbour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US PVC exports continue decline in July
US PVC exports continue decline in July
Houston, 3 September (Argus) — US polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports continued to lag behind year-earlier levels in July, driven by lower shipments to Turkey, Mexico, India and Vietnam. PVC exports in July dropped by 12pc from a year earlier to 235,376 metric tonnes (t), extending a prolonged contraction in US shipments this year. Exports have been lower on the year in every month this year through July, with total exports in the seven-month period dropping by 9pc to 1.86mn t. Declining US exports stem from higher trade barriers with key partners. Mexico's Ministry of Economy imposed anti-dumping duties on PVC imports from the US earlier this year, pressuring July deliveries 57pc lower than a year earlier to 12,237t. Exports to Vietnam in July fell on the year by 46pc to 23,840t after Vietnamese importers shifted purchases to Chinese suppliers earlier in the year. Still, July exports to Vietnam surged five-fold from June after high freight costs from China gave US PVC suppliers a competitive advantage. US PVC exports to Turkey also remained down in July, dropping by 33pc from a year earlier to 16,000t. Turkey has historically been one of the US' largest trading partners, accounting for 11pc of US PVC exports last year. Deliveries to India fell to 9,100t in July, down by 25pc from the same month last year. Still, Indian importers have been a key demand source for US exporters during the second half of the year, as elevated China freight costs funnel demand to US suppliers. By Adriana Alfaro Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.