The feasibility of manufaturing vinyl chloride monomer in the Philippines

• Main Author: Francisco, Alberto Y.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1977
• Subjects: Vinyl chloride > Philippines; Manufacturing
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/431
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study analyzes the feasibility of manufacturing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in the Philippines. The study covers market, technical, financial and management aspects of such a project. The proposed project will have a rated capacity of 25,000 MT per year vinyl chloride monomer starting from salt and ethanol. The by-products of the plant at full capacity utilization are 33,000 MTPY caustic soda, 850 MTPY hydrogen gas and 14,500 MTPY HCl. The integrated VCM plant is scheduled to be on stream in early 1977. The market study shows that there is a big market for the VCM output of the plant. The two local PVC companies are currently dependent on imported VCM, with Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation dependent on imported VCM for around two-thirds of its rated capacity and Philippine Vinyl Consortium, Inc. totally dependent on imported VCM. By 1978, assuming an annual growth rate of 30% in the demand for VCM, the VCM demand-supply gap will still be 39,400 MT even with the addition of 54,600 MT of local VCM capacity. Without additional VCM capacity, the demand-supply gap will be 94,000 MT. There is also a market for by-product caustic soda in industries like soap and detergents, pulp and paper, textile, and monosodium glutamate. The caustic soda demand-supply gap in 1974 is around 30,000 MT. By 1978, the caustic soda demand-supply gap will still be around 6,800 MT even assuming an increase in local production by 52,000 MT over 1974 level. If there is no further increase in local caustic soda capacity, the demand-supply gap will widen to around 59,000 MT by 1978. By-product hydrogen can be sold but is costed at fuel value here since the quantity is relatively small. By-product HCl will be sold domestically or exported. Unsold HCl can be converted to chloride in a separate plant, given away free, or neutralized and then disposed. The proposed project will be located in Rosario, Cavite and will consist of three plants, namely : a 25,000 MTPY VCM plant, a chlor-alkali plant rated at 30,000 MTPY chlorine, and a 12,000 MTPY ethyle