PVDC Market Share & Trends [2033]

PVDC Market Overview

The Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC) Market size was valued at USD 851 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1139.91 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2025 to 2033.

Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC) is a high-barrier polymer widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic packaging due to its exceptional oxygen and moisture resistance. In 2024, global PVDC resin production surpassed 310,000 metric tons, with food packaging applications accounting for approximately 56% of the total volume. The compound’s low permeability to water vapor (less than 1 g/m²/day at 38°C and 90% RH) and oxygen (0.2 cm³/m²/day) positions it as an ideal coating or film for perishable goods.

Kureha Corporation, one of the top manufacturers, has increased its PVDC resin capacity to over 100,000 metric tons annually, mainly to meet rising pharmaceutical packaging demand in Asia-Pacific. The demand for PVDC in sterile medical packaging surged by 19,000 metric tons in 2023 alone, reflecting growing health infrastructure investments in emerging economies. PVDC’s utility in forming multilayer barrier films also contributes to its widespread use across over 70 countries globally.

Key Findings

Driver: Surging demand for high-barrier packaging in food and pharmaceutical sectors is driving PVDC utilization, with over 174,000 metric tons consumed in packaging films in 2023.

Top Country/Region: China led PVDC consumption with over 85,000 metric tons in 2023, accounting for more than 27% of global demand.

Top Segment: Food packaging remained the dominant application, capturing over 56% of total PVDC consumption, equivalent to more than 170,000 metric tons worldwide.

PVDC Market Trends

The PVDC (Polyvinylidene Chloride) market is witnessing a series of transformations driven by advancements in packaging technologies, sustainability concerns, and expanding end-use industries. In 2023, over 310,000 metric tons of PVDC resins were produced globally, marking a notable increase from 288,000 metric tons in 2021. One of the most prominent trends is the growing integration of PVDC in multilayer barrier films, which now represent over 60% of PVDC usage worldwide. These films offer superior moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTRs) below 0.8 g/m²/day, making them indispensable in preserving the shelf life of food and pharmaceutical products. In food packaging, particularly in vacuum-sealed meats and processed foods, PVDC-coated films are replacing traditional mono-material plastics due to their enhanced oxygen barrier performance—often measured at less than 0.2 cm³/m²/day.

As a result, demand from food manufacturers rose by 8.4% in 2023 alone, with consumption exceeding 174,000 metric tons. The pharmaceuticals sector is following closely behind. Blister packaging using PVDC films increased to 57,000 metric tons in 2023 due to growing demand for unit-dose packaging formats in emerging markets. Sustainability remains a key market driver, despite PVDC’s chlorine-based chemical structure. To address regulatory and environmental pressures, companies such as SK and Kureha have launched PVDC formulations with reduced chlorine content and enhanced recyclability. By 2024, over 18% of PVDC materials in circulation were part of low-chlorine or hybrid blends aimed at compliance with EU and North American packaging regulations.

PVDC Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for pharmaceuticals

The growing need for pharmaceutical packaging is a major driver of the PVDC market. In 2023, global pharmaceutical blister packaging using PVDC exceeded 57,000 metric tons, reflecting an 11.2% year-on-year increase. The use of PVDC in cold-formed and thermoformed blister packs has grown due to its outstanding barrier properties, protecting sensitive drugs from moisture and oxygen exposure. With over 13 billion blister packs produced in Asia-Pacific in 2023 alone, demand for PVDC films has intensified.

RESTRAINT

Environmental concerns surrounding halogenated materials

Environmental sustainability and regulatory constraints are significant restraints for the PVDC market. As PVDC contains chlorine, its incineration can generate hydrochloric acid and dioxins, which has raised environmental concerns. In 2023, over 30 countries implemented restrictions or imposed additional labeling requirements for chlorine-based polymers. The European Union’s REACH regulation identified PVDC under scrutiny due to its halogen content, pressuring manufacturers to reformulate or phase out older PVDC film grades.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion in biodegradable and recyclable PVDC alternatives

An important opportunity for market players lies in the development and commercialization of eco-friendly PVDC alternatives or modified PVDC blends. In 2024, over 56 companies globally were engaged in research and development for chlorine-reduced or bio-derived PVDC variants. Kureha, for example, developed a PVDC resin with 25% reduced chlorine content, targeting markets with strict environmental standards.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures

Rising raw material and energy costs pose significant challenges to PVDC market growth. The price of vinylidene chloride monomer, the base material for PVDC, increased by 14.5% in 2023 due to tight supply and rising crude oil prices. In parallel, manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America faced a 21% increase in energy-related operating costs. This has led to cost inflation for PVDC-based packaging, particularly affecting SMEs and price-sensitive sectors like food packaging.

PVDC Market Segmentation

The PVDC market is segmented by type into PVDC Resins and PVDC Latex, and by application into Food Packaging and Wrap, Pharmaceuticals Packaging, Unit Packaging for Hygiene and Cosmetic Products, Sterilized Medical Packaging, and Others. In 2023, PVDC Resins accounted for more than 82% of total volume, while PVDC Latex experienced growth driven by eco-friendly demands. On the application side, food packaging led the market with over 170,000 metric tons of demand, followed by pharmaceuticals with 57,000 metric tons. Cosmetics and hygiene packaging contributed approximately 9.6% of total usage in 2023, representing a growing niche segment for PVDC films.

By Type

PVDC Resins: are the dominant type in the market, contributing more than 255,000 metric tons in 2023. These resins are widely used in co-extruded and laminated film structures for food and pharmaceutical packaging. With barrier properties offering oxygen transmission rates (OTRs) below 0.2 cm³/m²/day and moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTRs) around 0.8 g/m²/day, PVDC resins outperform many polymer competitors.
PVDC Latex: accounted for approximately 55,000 metric tons of the market in 2023, up from 48,000 metric tons in 2021. Water-based PVDC latex is primarily used for coatings on paper, film, and foil substrates. Its ability to offer solvent-free, low-VOC packaging solutions makes it increasingly attractive for companies under environmental pressure. The adoption rate of PVDC latex rose by 14.2% year-over-year in Europe in 2023, particularly in fresh food packaging.

By Application

Food Packaging and Wrap: dominated the market with consumption exceeding 170,000 metric tons in 2023. The segment accounted for over 56% of global PVDC demand. Applications include vacuum-sealed meats, processed food, cheese, and snack packaging. PVDC’s moisture transmission rate under 1 g/m²/day significantly enhances product shelf life.
Pharmaceuticals Packaging: used over 57,000 metric tons of PVDC in 2023. Blister packs dominate this segment, benefiting from PVDC’s high chemical resistance and impermeability. In Germany, over 62% of oral solid dosage medications were packed in PVDC-coated blister foils in 2023.
Unit Packaging for Hygiene and Cosmetic Products: This segment contributed around 29,000 metric tons in 2023, representing approximately 9.6% of total PVDC consumption. PVDC is used in barrier wrappers for products like wet wipes, face masks, and lotions. Japan reported a 12% increase in demand for PVDC-coated cosmetic sachets in 2023, driven by rising skincare awareness and premium product trials.
Sterilized Medical Packaging: applications consumed over 18,000 metric tons of PVDC in 2023. These include syringes, surgical instruments, and diagnostic kits requiring barrier-coated films. PVDC’s ability to withstand ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization and gamma radiation makes it ideal for such usage. In the U.S., more than 500 million PVDC-based medical pouches were produced in 2023.
Others: category, including electronics packaging and industrial specialty films, represented roughly 10,000 metric tons of PVDC consumption in 2023. PVDC’s anti-static and corrosion-resistant properties are used in moisture-sensitive packaging for microelectronics and specialty adhesives.

PVDC Market Regional Outlook

The global PVDC market exhibits varying demand patterns and growth trajectories across major regions, with regional consumption shaped by industrial maturity, regulatory environments, and end-use demand. In 2023, Asia-Pacific led the global PVDC market with more than 47% share by volume, followed by North America at 22%, Europe at 19%, and the Middle East & Africa accounting for the remaining 12%. Rapid urbanization, expanding food processing sectors, and pharmaceutical industry developments have significantly influenced these figures.

North America

accounted for approximately 68,000 metric tons of PVDC consumption. The region’s demand is primarily driven by pharmaceutical packaging, which made up over 40% of the total volume. The United States alone consumed more than 52,000 metric tons, with blister packs accounting for 60% of this. Adoption of PVDC latex coatings has also increased, with 8,000 metric tons used in paper-based medical and hygiene packaging formats.

Europe

consumed an estimated 59,000 metric tons of PVDC in 2023, with Germany, France, and the UK contributing nearly 65% of regional volume. Food packaging accounted for over 32,000 metric tons, especially in pre-cooked and vacuum-sealed product formats. However, stricter environmental regulations in the EU have pressured manufacturers to transition toward recyclable or chlorine-reduced PVDC blends.

Asia-Pacific

dominated the global market with more than 147,000 metric tons of PVDC consumption in 2023. China was the leading consumer, utilizing over 85,000 metric tons, followed by India and Japan. Rapid expansion in packaged foods, which grew by 13.2% in urban Chinese households, directly fueled demand for PVDC films in vacuum and thermoformed packaging. Japan and South Korea are investing in chlorine-reduced PVDC R&D, with more than 14 companies operating pilot-scale testing of eco-friendly PVDC variants.

Middle East & Africa

region consumed approximately 36,000 metric tons of PVDC in 2023. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were major contributors, with food packaging accounting for over 60% of regional use. Growing demand for extended-shelf-life products in supermarkets led to a 15.6% increase in PVDC-based barrier film imports. Pharmaceutical packaging is also rising, especially in Egypt and South Africa, where combined PVDC blister consumption exceeded 6,000 metric tons in 2023.

List of Top PVDC Companies

SK (Dow)
Kureha
Solvay
Asahi Kasei
Juhua Group
Nantong SKT
Keguan Polymer

SK (Dow): in partnership with Dow, is one of the leading global producers of PVDC resins. In 2023, the company accounted for approximately 28% of global PVDC resin output, producing over 87,000 metric tons annually. Their facilities in South Korea and the United States have expanded resin manufacturing capacity by 15% between 2021 and 2023 to meet rising demand in flexible and pharmaceutical packaging. SK’s chlorine-optimized PVDC grades are widely used in high-barrier food and medical packaging films globally.

Kureha: Corporation held an estimated 24% share of the PVDC market in 2023, with annual production exceeding 74,000 metric tons. Headquartered in Japan, Kureha is renowned for its proprietary Kuredux™ PVDC technology, which offers improved recyclability and reduced chlorine content. In 2024, Kureha launched a new production line in Iwaki, Japan, increasing its PVDC output by 12,000 metric tons per year to cater to Asia-Pacific demand, particularly in pharmaceutical blister applications.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the PVDC market have seen substantial momentum over the past two years, fueled by the growing need for high-performance packaging and the drive toward sustainable material innovation. In 2023, global capital expenditure related to PVDC production and processing facilities exceeded USD 420 million equivalent in infrastructure and equipment, with more than 18 new production lines commissioned globally for PVDC resin and latex manufacturing. Key investment hotspots include Asia-Pacific and North America, which together received over 67% of total PVDC-focused investments. In Japan, Kureha Corporation announced an investment of over 12 billion yen to expand its Iwaki PVDC plant in 2024, boosting annual capacity by 12,000 metric tons. This expansion is aimed at addressing pharmaceutical demand in Asia and Europe, where blister packaging formats are increasingly preferred. In China, Juhua Group is investing in automated PVDC resin compounding lines with projected output gains of 9,000 metric tons annually. The Chinese government’s push to localize pharmaceutical packaging supply chains further encourages these developments.

In the U.S., SK Innovation expanded its Alabama facility by 20% in 2023, injecting approximately USD 75 million into equipment upgrades focused on chlorine-reduced PVDC production. North America’s demand for recyclable packaging materials created new opportunities for companies developing modified PVDC grades, and over 5 startups in the U.S. and Canada entered the space focusing on hybrid PVDC blends. On the R&D front, over 56 organizations globally are investing in new PVDC formulations, especially biodegradable composites and water-dispersible films. These innovations are being trialed in packaging for meats, bakery items, cosmetics, and unit-dose pharmaceuticals. Government support is also catalyzing investment. For instance, the EU’s Horizon 2020 program co-funded two major PVDC innovation projects totaling EUR 9.4 million, aiming to reduce halogen use in packaging films by 40%.

New Product Development

The PVDC market is undergoing a wave of innovation as manufacturers prioritize sustainability, performance enhancement, and regulatory compliance in new product development. In 2023–2024, over 34 new PVDC-based packaging products and formulations were launched across various industries, with a focus on barrier properties, recyclability, and cost-effectiveness. This product pipeline growth reflects increasing R&D expenditure by top players, estimated at over USD 150 million in 2023 globally. Kureha Corporation developed a next-generation PVDC resin with 25% reduced chlorine content under its Kuredux™ brand. This resin maintains an oxygen transmission rate of less than 0.1 cm³/m²/day and is designed for compliance with evolving European packaging regulations. It also improves lamination performance, reducing solvent consumption by 12% during film production. Kureha initiated pilot testing of this material with three leading pharmaceutical blister pack manufacturers in Japan and Germany during Q4 2023.

SK (Dow) introduced a new high-barrier PVDC latex specifically designed for coated paper packaging formats. This water-based product enables a VOC emission reduction of up to 45% compared to conventional solvent-based PVDC coatings. The latex dries at room temperature, making it suitable for use on compostable paper wrappers for bakery goods, and already has seen trial deployment in South Korea’s retail chains across 4,000 stores. Solvay has launched a solvent-resistant PVDC multilayer film with enhanced heat-sealing properties, targeted at pharmaceutical pouches and liquid packaging. The film withstands up to 145°C sealing temperatures without structural degradation. Solvay’s internal trials showed a 19% improvement in package integrity after 60-day accelerated aging simulations. Asahi Kasei developed a PVDC composite film optimized for high-humidity tropical climates. The new film, launched in Q3 2023, achieved moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR) below 0.6 g/m²/day at 90% RH—20% better than its predecessor.

Five Recent Developments

Kureha Expanded PVDC Resin Capacity in Japan (2024): completed an expansion of its Iwaki plant, adding 12,000 metric tons to its annual PVDC resin production. This increased total plant capacity to over 100,000 metric tons, aimed at meeting surging demand in pharmaceutical and food packaging sectors across Asia and Europe.
SK Innovation Debuted Eco-Friendly PVDC Latex (2023): launched a chlorine-reduced PVDC latex, enabling VOC emissions reduction by 45% in coated packaging applications. The new latex was tested across 2,500 product SKUs from FMCG companies in South Korea and Taiwan, receiving positive performance feedback.
Solvay Introduced Heat-Sealable PVDC Films (2023): released a heat-sealable PVDC multilayer film with sealing temperature resistance of up to 145°C, making it suitable for liquid pharmaceutical applications. The film was deployed in high-barrier pouch packaging for over-the-counter medications in the EU market.
Asahi Kasei Developed Tropical-Grade PVDC Film (2023): launched a tropical-grade PVDC film with an MVTR of 0.6 g/m²/day at 90% RH, targeting Southeast Asian markets. The film was used by more than 150 regional brands, reducing spoilage-related product returns by 23%.
Juhua Group Modernized PVDC Manufacturing Line (2024): upgraded its PVDC plant in Zhejiang, China, with digital process controls and added capacity of 9,000 metric tons/year. Completed in March 2024, the modernization aimed to increase production efficiency and reduce energy consumption by 17%.

Report Coverage of PVDC Market

This PVDC market report provides comprehensive analysis across key parameters, including material types, end-use industries, regional outlook, technological innovation, and competitive positioning. Covering data from 2021 to early 2025, the report tracks over 310,000 metric tons of global PVDC production and dissects market share across two major material types—PVDC Resin and PVDC Latex. In 2023, PVDC resin dominated the market with over 82% share, while PVDC latex reached a production volume of 55,000 metric tons, growing due to its eco-friendly application in coated paper and foil packaging. Application-wise, the report highlights five primary verticals—food packaging and wrap, pharmaceutical packaging, cosmetics and hygiene unit packaging, sterilized medical packaging, and others. Food packaging was the largest segment in 2023, consuming over 170,000 metric tons of PVDC globally. Pharmaceutical applications followed with 57,000 metric tons, particularly driven by demand for blister packs and sterile medical pouches. Regional data shows Asia-Pacific as the fastest-growing and largest market, representing over 47% of global demand, with China alone consuming 85,000 metric tons.

The report also examines emerging trends such as the transition toward chlorine-reduced PVDC variants and the shift in demand from monolayer to multilayer barrier packaging systems. With over 34 new PVDC product formulations introduced globally in the last two years, innovation is a central theme, supported by data on moisture and oxygen barrier values, recyclability, and compatibility with heat-sealing and sterilization processes. The competitive landscape section profiles top market players including SK (Dow) and Kureha, who together held over 50% market share in 2023. Expansion activities, product launches, and R&D investments are quantified to provide a clear picture of strategic positioning. In terms of investment analysis, the report covers over USD 420 million equivalent spent globally on new PVDC production lines, R&D projects, and technology upgrades in 2023 alone.