China PVC Profile Industry Operating Rate Inched Up in Apr
Preface: Operating rates at PVC profile enterprises inched up in April. Orders at most enterprises were tepid. They purchased on a need-to basis amid a certain amount of feedstock and finished product inventory.
According to SCI’s data, the overall operating rate at 20 sample profile enterprises was 26% in April, up 2 percentage points MoM, but down 1 percentage point YoY.
In April, the operating rate of downstream profile enterprises showed limited improvement. The sluggish real estate market continued to weigh on demand for profiles, leaving most enterprises struggling with insufficient orders.
PVC profiles, also known as plastic steel profiles, are primarily composed of PVC, making them widely used as a new type of construction material. In housing construction, they are mainly applied to sliding and casement doors and windows, railings, pipes, and ceiling materials. The use of PVC profiles in real estate projects is primarily concentrated in the completion or later stages, meaning that PVC profile demand is closely tied to the performance of the real estate sector.
The reason why the overall operating rate of profiles in April fell short of expectations is primarily due to weak domestic demand and subdued orders for profiles. Approximately 60% of PVC’s end-use downstream is related to the real estate industry, meaning the performance of the real estate sector is closely tied to PVC demand. In March 2025, real estate data showed a generally moderate performance, with the decline in new construction starts and completions narrowing slightly. However, the demand for profiles from the real estate sector has not shown significant improvement.
According to research, the profile industrial operating rate inched up in April, but may fail to increase further in May. During the May Day holiday, most downstream enterprises suspended production for about three days. After the holiday, operations gradually resumed. Orders at profile enterprises fail to improve currently, and the industrial operating rate is expected to remain largely at April levels. Given insufficient orders and weak feedstock prices, downstream enterprises are likely to purchase on a need-to basis in May.
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