The outlook for caustic soda seems bright. According to Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd., caustic soda production capacity grows by 1% a year (average capacity utilization rate - 87-90%). Demand for caustic soda increases by an average of 3% per year.
The market for caustic soda is rather well-developed and stable. Caustic soda plays an important role in many industries such as: pulp and paper, textiles, soaps and detergents, bleach manufacturing, food industry, petroleum products (oil drilling), aluminum, and the chemical processing industry.
Global demand for chlorine will grow by 2.2% a year to 55.5m mt by 2009. Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd. reports that the chlorine production capacity expands by 9% annually and reaches 62.2m mt. Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd argues that the demand for chlorine immediately mirrors the changes in economic situation, since the chlorine end-products are usually used for the manufacture of long-lasting products, for example, in construction (PVC tubes, frames and doors, polyurethane insulation).
PVC and polyurethane account for about 55% of global demand for chlorine. The use of chlorine for the manufacture of vinyl chloride derivatives has been growing at a steady pace of 3.8% over the recent years. The use of chlorine to make phosgene - which is used to produce isocyanates and polycarbonate - is gaining momentum.
Chlorine affects 55% of the European chemical industry.
Caustic Soda and Chlorine Market Research Report also features the following information:
Economic situation on the global and regional markets for chlorine and caustic soda;
Markets for chlorine and caustic soda in the CIS countries;
Analysis of the consumption of chlorine and caustic soda in the CIS countries;
etc.