July 2012 Chlorine production
10 Aug 2012
The July European chlorine production reached 824,253
tonnes. With 26,589 tonnes, the July average daily production
was 4.9% higher than in the previous month (June 2012: 25,349
tonnes), but 7.1% lower than in July 2011 (28,636
tonnes).
Despite continued low exports and a significantly higher
chlorine make, July caustic soda stocks fell to 253,861
tonnes or 0.7% lower than in the previous month (June 2012: 255,678
tonnes), and were 2,476 tonnes above the level of July 2011
(251,385 tonnes).
Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in
the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in July 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 | 824,253 | -7.3 | 83.0 | 77.1 |
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 |
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 70 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.