Solvay shuts Tavaux pearl caustic soda for a week

27 July 2007 11:03  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Chlor-alkali producer Solvay will close its pearl caustic soda plant at Tavaux, France, for maintenance following technical problems on Friday morning, a company source said.

 

The 110,000 tonne/year plant was expected to be closed for one week, said the source.

 

In the meantime, Solvay said it would be producing fused material in metal drums instead of its regular pearls.

 

“We hope to have sufficient stocks to maintain sales volumes through the shutdown,” said the source, adding that the August market would not be affected much due to a slowdown in demand.

 

Production at the site has been affected by unspecified technical problems in June resulting in persistent reduced rates, although full production had been resumed on Friday 20 July.

 

The anhydrous caustic soda market has been much tighter than its liquid counterpart recently, although the seasonal demand slowdown in August could provide much needed relief.

 

Spot pearl prices on Friday were assessed at $500-520/tonne (€365-378/tonne) FOB (free on board) NWE (northwest Europe), according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

 

($1 = €0.73) 

By: Adal Rafiq
+44 20 8652 3214

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