Introduction: As the largest exporter of PVC glove products to the U.S., the tariff hikes will likely impact the export of PVC gloves, a downstream product of PVC paste.

Increased Export Pressure on PVC Gloves

This news affects the demand side of PVC paste. It impacts several downstream industries, such as PVC glove, coated fabric, and toy sectors. China is the world’s largest exporter of PVC gloves, accounting for over 70% of global PVC glove exports, with the U.S. being one of the primary export markets for Chinese PVC gloves.

According to GACC, the annual export volume of Chinese PVC gloves in the past five years ranged from 79 million to 109.19 million boxes, with exports to the U.S. accounting for 45%-50% of total exports, with a few periods where the proportion was below 40%. Therefore, the U.S. is the largest export market for China’s PVC glove products.

In the short term, the successive tariff increases by the U.S. will have a negative impact on China’s PVC glove exports. However, due to factors such as high labor costs and insufficient local supply chains, the U.S. will still depend on imported PVC gloves.

Pressure from Insufficient Demand for PVC Paste

After Trump’s election victory, in Q4, 2024, the U.S. market increased its procurement of China’s PVC glove products to pile up inventory. In January and February 2025, China’s PVC glove exports showed a MoM decline. In March, some Chinese PVC glove producers cut operating rates due to a reduction in overseas orders, leading to a noticeable decrease in demand for PVC paste. As a result, the transaction atmosphere for micro-suspension PVC paste in the glove sector weakened, and prices moved downward. In April, the overall PVC glove export orders were tepid, dragging down the PVC glove price.

On the whole, the tariff increases will likely dent China’s PVC glove exports, leading to a reduction in demand for PVC paste. However, since tariffs may increase in other countries like Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, despite, their lower tariff rates, they cannot fully satisfy the PVC glove demand in the U.S. The market sentiment remains highly uncertain, and PVC paste prices may continue to hover at lows in the short term amid watch-and-see sentiments.