Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) prices dropped sharply in both Asia and the US in the second week of April xxxx, due to rising global trade tensions, decreasing crude oil prices, and deteriorating economic sentiment. However, German PVC prices were stable despite a decline in business confidence.
The slump was initiated by the US government&#xx;s early April reciprocal tariff announcement that spooked global markets. Even though the US subsequently softened full implementation for a xxx across-the-board tariff, China retaliated with a counter-xxxx duty on US chemical exports. This has sharpened tariff hostilities, further obscuring trade prospects for industrial materials such as PVC.
Crude oil markets registered notable declines, as Brent dropped from USD xx.xx per barrel in January to USD xx.xx by mid-April, while WTI decreased from USD xx.xx to USD xx.xx. The resulting reduction in petrochemical production costs has played a role in driving global PVC prices...
