December 2012 Chlorine production figures

14 Jan 2013

In December, the European chlorine production stood at 785,480 tonnes.  With 25,338 tonnes, the December average daily production was 5.5% lower than in the previous month (November 2012: 26,809 tonnes), but 2.8% higher than in December 2011 (24,644 tonnes).

Following the record lows of October and November, caustic soda stocks showed a Christmas increase at the end of December (241,462
tonnes), i.e. 22,278 tonnes above the previous month (November 2012: 219,184 tonnes) and 2.5% above December 2011 (235,576
tonnes), in keeping with December 2012's higher chlorine make.

Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in December 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 832,085 833,820 +2.0 80.3 80.6
May 796,716 829,050 +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 809,708 800,537 -1.1 78.1 77.4
October 807,205 766,899 -5.0 75.4 71.7
November 774,311 804,267 +3.9 74.7 77.7
 December 774,152 785,480 +1.5 72.3 73.5

Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)

  2011 2012
January 271,668 250,408
February 281,587 262,822
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 242,282 213,986
November 266,558 219,184
 December 235,576 241,462

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.