December 2012 Chlorine Production Figures
In December, the European chlorine production stood at 785,480
tonnes. With 25,338 tonnes, the December average daily
production was 5.5% lower than in the previous month (November
2012: 26,809 tonnes), but 2.8% higher than in December 2011 (24,644
tonnes).
Following the record lows of October and November, caustic soda
stocks showed a Christmas increase at the end of December (241,462
tonnes), i.e. 22,278 tonnes above the previous month (November
2012: 219,184 tonnes) and 2.5% above December 2011 (235,576
tonnes), in keeping with December 2012's higher chlorine
make.
Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the
EU-27 countries plus Norway
and Switzerland in December 2012 are provided in the following
tables.
Chlorine production & capacity utilisation - EU
27 + Norway/Switzerland
|
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 |
833,820 |
+2.0 |
80.3 |
80.6 |
|
May |
796,716 |
829,050 |
+4.1 |
74.4 |
77.5 |
|
June |
863,890 |
760,463 |
-12.0 |
83.4 |
73.5 |
|
July |
889,061 |
829,458 |
-6.7 |
83.0 |
77.6 |
|
August |
845,338 |
821,323 |
-2.8 |
78.9 |
76.8 |
|
September |
809,708 |
800,537 |
-1.1 |
78.1 |
77.4 |
|
October |
807,205 |
766,899 |
-5.0 |
75.4 |
71.7 |
|
November |
774,311 |
804,267 |
+3.9 |
74.7 |
77.7 |
|
December |
774,152 |
785,480 |
+1.5 |
72.3 |
73.5 |
Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)
|
2011 |
2012 |
|
|
January |
271,668 |
250,408 |
|
February |
281,587 |
262,822 |
|
March |
243,409 |
256,397 |
|
April |
260,675 |
285,845 |
|
May |
236,790 |
275,936 |
|
June |
266,265 |
255,678 |
|
July |
251,385 |
254,833 |
|
August |
259,526 |
255,696 |
|
September |
248,588 |
255,458 |
|
October |
242,282 |
213,986 |
|
November |
266,558 |
219,184 |
|
December |
235,576 |
241,462 |
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.