August 2012 Chlorine production
17 Sep 2012
In August, the European chlorine production reached
815,473 tonnes. With 26,306 tonnes, the August average daily
production was 1.1% lower than in the previous month (July 2012:
26,587 tonnes), and 1.9% lower than in August 2011 (26,819
tonnes).
The August caustic soda stocks were also little changed at
254,924 tonnes, i.e. 0.4% higher than in the previous month (July
2012: 253,861 tonnes), and were 4,602 tonnes below the level of
August 2011 (259,526 tonnes).
Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in
the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in August 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 | 824,201 | -7.3 | 83.0 | 77.1 |
| August | 845,338 | 815,473 | -3.5 | 78.9 | 76.3 |
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 |
| August | 259,526 | 254,924 |
Further information: eurochlor [at] cefic.be
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.