November 2012 Chlorine production figures

11 Dec 2012

In November, the European chlorine production reached 804,267 tonnes.  With 26,809 tonnes, the November average daily production was 8.4% higher than in the previous month (October 2012: 24,739 tonnes), and 5.2% higher than in November 2011 (25,475 tonnes).

A consequence of October's unusually low chlorine make was a 41,472-tonne reduction in caustic soda stocks.  Despite the November recovery for chlorine, caustic soda stocks at the end of November (219,184 tonnes) remain close to the all-time low set by October's revised stock figure (213,986 tonnes) and 47,374 tonnes below November 2011 (266,558 tonnes).

Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the EU-27 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in November 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

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

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.