December 2010 Chlorine Production
2010 began a recovery of the European chloralkali industry
with an overall chlorine make 881,303 tonnes above the 2009 figure
and caustic soda exports 125,127 tonnes lower than 2009 (an
increase in apparent European caustic soda consumption of just over
one million tonnes).
The December 2010 caustic soda stocks reached 242,284
tonnes, i.e. a 12.1% increase compared to the previous month
(November 2010: 216,159 tonnes), and 8,472 tonnes below the
December 2009 level (250,756 tonnes).
Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks
in the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in December 2010
are provided in the following tables.
EU 27 + Norway/Switzerland
Chlorine production & capacity utilisation
|
Month |
Production |
Capacity Utilisation |
|||
|
|
2009 |
2010 |
% change |
2009 |
2010 |
|
January |
665,891 |
808,563 |
+21.4% |
60.4% |
74.7% |
|
February |
740,603 |
786,984 |
+6.3% |
74.4% |
80.5% |
|
March |
738,872 |
845,597 |
+14.4% |
67.0% |
78.2% |
|
April |
670,349 |
834,652 |
+24.5% |
62.8% |
79.7% |
|
May |
764,103 |
872,472 |
+14.2% |
69.3% |
80.6% |
|
June |
761,270 |
843,513 |
+10.8% |
71.3% |
80.6% |
|
July |
826,136 |
854,731 |
+3.5% |
74.9% |
79.0% |
|
August |
771,139 |
873,015 |
+13.2% |
69.9% |
80.7% |
|
September |
773,029 |
764,415 |
-1.1% |
72.4% |
73.0% |
|
October |
796,811 |
809,582 |
+1.6% |
72.3% |
74.8% |
|
November |
812,307 |
836,890 |
+3.0% |
76.1% |
79.9% |
|
December |
737,319 |
808,717 |
+9.7% |
66.9% |
74.8% |
Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)
|
|
2009 |
2010 |
|
January |
242,588 |
275,312 |
|
February |
293,675 |
295,002 |
|
March |
352,685 |
255,758 |
|
April |
349,259 |
246,044 |
|
May |
341,344 |
260,670 |
|
June |
304,845 |
252,124 |
|
July |
332,600 |
238,609 |
|
August |
279,851 |
246,001 |
|
September |
240,641 |
224,331 |
|
October |
242,369 |
221,109 |
|
November |
255,645 |
216,159 |
|
December |
250,756 |
242,284 |
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 77 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.