August 5, 2026 12:50

Chinese petrochemical group Sinopec has commissioned a new polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) production facility in Chongqing with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes, raising the site’s total capacity to 210,000 tonnes per year.
Construction took 17 months.

The unit achieved stable operation from start-up, producing materials that met quality specifications. According to Sinopec, the first batch has already been shipped to Europe.

PVA is a water-soluble polymer that biodegrades under certain environmental and microbiological conditions. The grades produced in Chongqing, which are characterised by high purity and transparency, are also intended for high-value applications in photovoltaics, electronics, optical films and pharmaceuticals.

PVA is also used in water-soluble packaging films, textiles and construction materials. It also serves as a raw material for polyvinyl butyral, or PVB, which is used in interlayers for laminated safety glass in cars and high-speed trains.

According to the Chinese group, the facility uses advanced alcoholysis and precision purification technologies, along with a new polymerisation process that is said to have increased production capacity by 40% compared with earlier-generation equipment.

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