Tosoh unlikely to raise spot caustic soda exports

23 April 2008 05:09  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Japan’s Tosoh Corp is unlikely to export more caustic soda in the spot market this year despite an increase in its production capacity after June, a source close to the company said on Wednesday.

The company’s chlor-alkali complex in Nanyo currently produces 950,000 tonnes of caustic soda annually and this would increase to around 1.1m tonne/year after the completion of the plant’s expansion in June.

Most of the new capacity has, however, already been booked, leaving little for the spot export market, the source said.

Around half will be used for the company’s polyurethanes production while the remaining half has already been allocated to buyers overseas, particularly in Australia, the source added.

This will mean that the company is unlikely to have any additional quantities for the spot export market this year, he said.

Tosoh on average exports 1,000 to 1,500 tonnes of spot caustic soda each month.

It operates a second plant in Yokkaichi with an annual production capacity of 180,000 tonnes/year of caustic soda.

For more on caustic soda, visit ICIS chemical intelligence.

By: Hun Wei Ng
+65 6780 4359

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