The downward pricing trend continued in September for North American PVC resin.
Selling prices for suspension PVC resins in the region dropped an average of 1 cent per pound in September, according to sources contacted by Plastics News. It's the second consecutive 1-cent monthly drop seen by the material.
Prior to the back-to-back declines, regional PVC prices had been flat for four consecutive months. Prices now are down a net of 1 cent per pound so far in 2015.
Through August, U.S./Canadian PVC sales were down almost 1 percent vs. the same period in 2014, according to the American Chemistry Council in Washington. Domestic sales were down more than 2 percent, even as sales into export markets grew almost 3 percent.
Regional sales of PVC into most construction-related uses were flat or slightly down for the eight-month period, even as U.S. construction activity continued to improve. PVC sales into rigid pipe and tubing — which accounted for almost 45 percent of domestic sales — fell more than 1 percent.
PVC sales into extruded windows and doors also fell 1 percent, while sales into fencing and decking essentially were flat. The only construction-related segment that showed PVC sales growth for the eight months was siding and related uses, where sales grew almost 5 percent.