China to spearhead global VAM capacity additions through 2028

China is set to witness most of the vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) capacity additions globally by 2028, contributing about 78% of the total capacity additions from six upcoming projects, says GlobalData, the data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Industry Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecasts with Details of All Active and Planned Plants to 2028, says that China is likely to witness VAM capacity additions of 1.46 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) during 2024 to 2028 from five planned and an announced project.

Nivedita Roy, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, Comments: “VAM is a colorless liquid intermediate used to produce various polymers and resins. It is widely used in adhesives, films, paints, coatings, textile finishes, and other applications. China is the largest producer and consumer of VAM in the world. The increasing application of VAM in automotive and electronics industries is further necessitating the capacity additions in the country.”

In China, Zhejiang Petrochemical Daishan Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Plant 1 and  Zhejiang Petrochemical Daishan Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Plant 2 are major upcoming projects, each with a capacity of 0.30 mtpa. Both the plants are currently under construction and are likely to come onstream in 2025. Zhejiang Petrochemical has 100% equity in each project as well as the proposed operator for them. 

The Guangxi Huayi Energy and Chemical Qinzhou Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Plant is another important upcoming plant in the country, which is expected to start operations in 2026 with a capacity of 0.30mtpa. It is currently under construction in the Shanghai Huayi Company Qinzhou Complex, in Guangxi province of China. 

Inner Mongolia Zhuozheng Coal Chemical Industry Ordos Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Plant is another major plant with the same capacity of 0.30mtpa. It is expected to commence production of VAM in 2028.