News

July 2012 Chlorine Production

10/08/2012

Brussels, 10th August 2012

The July European chlorine production reached 824,253
tonnes.  With 26,589 tonnes, the July average daily production
was 4.9% higher than in the previous month (June 2012: 25,349
tonnes), but 7.1% lower than in July 2011 (28,636
tonnes).
 

Despite continued low exports and a significantly higher
chlorine make, July caustic soda stocks  fell to 253,861
tonnes or 0.7% lower than in the previous month (June 2012: 255,678
tonnes), and were 2,476 tonnes above the level of July 2011
(251,385 tonnes).
 

Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in
the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in July 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

 824,253

 -7.3

 83.0

 77.1

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

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 70 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.