Europe chlorine production falls 0.7% in June

15 July 2009 18:59  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--European chlorine production fell by 0.7% in June, compared with May figures, industry association Euro Chlor said on Wednesday.

Euro Chlor said that chlorine production in June (a 30-day month) reached 758,593 tonnes, but this was 11.0% lower than production in June 2008.

The average daily output of chlorine rose 2.6% in June against the previous month, but this also remained 11.0% lower than June 2008 figures, the industry body said.

June caustic soda stocks showed a second monthly fall and were 11.1% lower than May levels at 303,310 tonnes, although this remained 22.4% higher than the depressed levels seen in June 2008.

Although several players in the caustic soda market had said that stocks were lower due to heightened export activity in the previous weeks, sellers were hopeful that demand was improving ahead of numerous planned maintenance turnarounds during August, which would ultimately help to balance the market ahead of the fourth quarter.  

The average chlor-alkali capacity utilisation in June was estimated at 72.1%, up 1.8% from May, but still 10.7% lower than June 2008, figures showed.

This year’s figures were boosted by the introduction of two new companies to the group, which increased the reported capacity by around 2.15% in 2009, Euro Chlor said.

EU 25 + Norway/Switzerland

Production & capacity utilisation

Month	Production (tonnes)			Capacity Utilisation (%)
	2008	2009	% change	2008	2009 (estimate)
January	920,472	665,891	-27.7%	86.5%	61.3%
February	854,617	740,603	-13.3%	85.9%	72.8%
March	916,402	738,872	-19.4%	86.1%	68.0%
April	874,507	670,349	-23.3%	84.9%	63.7%
May	911,541	764,102	-16.2%	85.7%	70.3%
June	852,078	758,593	- 11.0%	82.8%	72.1%

 

Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)

	2008	2009
January	274,625	242,588
February	249,762	293,675
March	277,515	352,685
April	260,049	349,259
May	257,559	341,178
June	247,738	303,310

 

 

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By: Stephanie Wilson
+44 20 8652 3214

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