Caustic soda

Headnote

30 May-5 June 2005

USES

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is a versa tile alkali. Its main uses are in chemical production as well as in the manufacture of pulp and paper alumina, soap and detergents and cellulosics. Other applications include water treatment, food, textile and metal processing, mining and glassmaking, among others.

SUPPLY/DEMAND

The availability of caustic soda, a coproduct of chlorine, is influenced by the chlorine derivatives market. Caustic output in western Europe was just over 10m tonne last year, and nearly 2.5m tonne in eastern Europe, notes Harriman Chemsult.

Producers report healthy demand and say supply has tightened because of plant outages and reduced chlorine output as a result of weak demand from PVC. Caustic stocks were at a record low at end April, standing at just 240 000 tonne in western Europe.

Contract commitments are being fulfilled but...