Shintech North America Announces $1.3B Expansion to Boost PVC Production and Supply

Shintech North America, the U.S. arm of Japan’s Shin‑Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.—the world’s largest PVC producer—has unveiled a $1.3 billion investment to enhance its manufacturing and packaging footprint at its Plaquemine, La., site. The expansion will secure a new 640‑million‑lb/yr vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant and a 640‑million‑lb/yr PVC plant, slated to begin operations by the end of the second quarter. This marks the first addition of a brand‑new PVC production line in several years, complementing incremental capacity gains from existing lines.

By the end of 2023, the project is projected to increase total capacity by 1.3 billion lb/yr of VCM and 838 million lb/yr of PVC, helping to ease the current tight supply conditions in the market. Concurrently, Shintech is expanding its PVC packaging and warehousing operations in Addis, La.

In the same quarter, Formosa Plastics will start up a new 300‑million‑lb/yr PVC line at its Baton Rouge, LA facility, further strengthening regional supply stability.

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