News

August 2012 Chlorine Production

17/09/2012

In August, the European chlorine production reached
815,473 tonnes.  With 26,306 tonnes, the August average daily
production was 1.1% lower than in the previous month (July 2012:
26,587 tonnes), and 1.9% lower than in August 2011 (26,819
tonnes).

The August caustic soda stocks were also little changed at
254,924 tonnes, i.e. 0.4% higher than in the previous month (July
2012: 253,861 tonnes), and were 4,602 tonnes below the level of
August 2011 (259,526 tonnes).

Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in
the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in August 2012 are
provided in the following tables.

EU 27 + Norway/Switzerland
Chlorine production & capacity utilisation

Month

Production (tonnes)

Capacity Utilisation (%)

 

2011

2012

% change

2011

2012

January

861,834

849,431

-1.4

80.5

79.5

February

809,138

759,089

-6.2

83.6

75.9

March

874,060

858,271

-1.8

81.6

80.3

April

832,085

833,821

+0.2

80.3

80.6

May

796,716

829,051

+4.1

74.4

77.5

June

863,890

760,463

-12.0

83.4

73.5

July

889,061

824,201

-7.3

83.0

77.1

 August

845,338

815,473

-3.5

78.9 

76.3 

Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)

 

2011

2012

January

271,668

250,408

February

281,587

262,823

March

243,409

256,397

April

260,675

285,845

May

236,790

275,936

June

266,265

255,678

July

251,385

253,861

August 

259,526 

254,924 

Further information:
Alistair J Steel, Executive Director
Tel: +32 2 676 73 50

Footnote to Editors
Some of the totals for each month may vary slightly
compared with figures used earlier. Please rely on the most recent
information since it sometimes happens that estimates have to be
made when data is supplied late by a producer. This is subsequently
adjusted when the actual figure becomes available.

Euro Chlor is a Brussels-based business
association representing chlor-alkali producers in the EU and EFTA
regions employing about 39,000 people at 71 manufacturing
locations. Almost 2,000,000 jobs in Europe are directly or
indirectly related to chlorine and its co-product caustic soda
(sodium hydroxide). These two key chemical building blocks underpin
55% of European chemical industry turnover.