News

October 2012 Chlorine Production Figures

13/11/2012

The October European chlorine production stood at 771,866
tonnes.  With 24,899 tonnes, the October average daily
production was 6.7% lower than in the previous month (September
2012: 26,689 tonnes), and 3.1% lower than in October 2011 (25,692
tonnes).

In October, the caustic soda stocks fell to 222,616
tonnes, i.e. 12.9% below the previous month (September 2012:
255,458 tonnes), and were 19,666 tonnes below the level of October
2011 (242,282 tonnes).

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

833,821

+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

829,458

-6.7

83.0

77.6

August

845,338

821,323

-2.8

78.9

76.8

September

809,708

800,656

-1.1

78.1

77.4

 October

 807,205

771,866 

 -4.4

 75.4

72.2 

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

254,833

August

259,526

255,696

September

248,588

255,458

 October

 242,282

 222,616

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.