June 2012 Chlorine production

11 Jul 2012

In June the European chlorine production fell to 760,761 tonnes.
With 25,359 tonnes, the June average daily production was 5.2%
lower than in the previous month (May 2012: 26,742 tonnes), and
11.5% lower than in June 2011 (28,678 tonnes).

Despite low exports, June caustic soda stocks also fell to
256,086 tonnes or 7.2% lower than in the previous month (May 2012:
275,970 tonnes), and 10,179 tonnes below the level of June 2011
(266,265 tonnes).

Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the
EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in June 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 796,716 829,000 +4.1 74.4 77.5
 June 863,890 760,761 -11.9 83.4 73.5

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 236,790 275,970
 June  266,265 256,086

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.