The USA market for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) saw price increases because feedstock prices remained stable and producers maintained their pricing policies and the market showed some early demand recovery. Because many market participants returned from their holiday breaks the market remained quiet. The business environment showed no new transactions because deliveries only included items from existing contracts. Producers were able to maintain a mechanism for controlling their costs and refraining from discounting by using stable EDC prices, which have remained stable throughout the period of this report. Therefore, producer discipline and control on supply provided additional support to the price. While the housing market continues to be weak, lowering mortgage interest rates and increasing mortgage purchase applications provide an optimistic outlook for the week ahead.
Poly vinyl Chloride (PVC) prices in the United States increased during the week that ended on January 30, 2026, because feedstock prices remained unchanged and producers followed their pricing policies and the market showed signs of demand recovery from its early-year weakness. The US polymer market remained inactive during the first day of 2026 because most market participants stayed away until their holiday break ended. The week saw no new PVC transactions because the only delivery activity that occurred linked back to existing agreements. The deliveries occurred because buyers had already signed contracts during the second half of 2025. The US market for PVC experienced price support because feedstock ethylene dichloride (EDC) prices reached stable levels. EDC price stability enabled producers to maintain their production expenses while they reduced their requirement to provide discounts. Sellers used cost stability to protect their price positions during the first part of the year. PVC producers maintained high price points because they expected a feedstock price drop to happen later in January which would cause feedstock prices to decrease. The PVC market showed international polymer market developments which created both positive and negative market reactions.
The PVC market showed two strong factors which were supply-side control and producer discipline. The PVC market showed pricing practices that matched those of polyolefin producers who wanted to keep their December pricing levels. The oil market has experienced price stability while market experts consider the current drop in naphtha prices to be a seasonal trend that results from reduced demand during the annual holiday period.
The current state of the US housing market leads to decreased PVC demand because it affects all PVC consumption sectors. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropped to 37 in January which demonstrated low construction market activity. The early 2026 housing indicators provided a positive impact on the market. The mortgage rates decreased to 6.16 percent while the mortgage purchase applications increased by 200 percent compared to last year despite heavy winter snow. Home sales that were pending for the week experienced an increase.
The market indicators that showed improvement together with the potential for converters to conduct early-year restocking created a positive outlook for demand growth.
