News

June 2012 Chlorine Production

11/07/2012

Brussels, 11th July 2012

In June the European chlorine production fell to 760,761 tonnes.
With 25,359 tonnes, the June average daily production was 5.2%
lower than in the previous month (May 2012: 26,742 tonnes), and
11.5% lower than in June 2011 (28,678 tonnes).

Despite low exports, June caustic soda stocks also fell to
256,086 tonnes or 7.2% lower than in the previous month (May 2012:
275,970 tonnes), and 10,179 tonnes below the level of June 2011
(266,265 tonnes).

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

829,000

+4.1

74.4

77.5

 June

863,890 

760,761 

-11.9 

83.4 

73.5 

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

275,970

 June

 266,265

256,086 

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.