US April chlor-alkali operating rate stays flat at 86%

17 May 2012 21:52  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US chlor-alkali production was 86% of capacity in April, the same as in March, a US trade group said on Thursday.

US chlor-alakli output was 961,650 tons (872,408.88 tonnes) of chlorine and 1,017,780 tons (923,330.01 tonnes) of caustic soda, the Chlorine Institute said.

The US operating rate has hovered in the mid-80s mark all year, according to the group.

Domestic demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), one of the major downstream products in the chlor-alkali chain, remains dampened as market players wait to see if the key home construction sector will begin to rebound this year.

Major US chlor-alkali producers include Formosa Plastics USA, Georgia Gulf, Shintech, Occidental Chemical (OxyChem) and Westlake.

 ($1 = €0.79)

 

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By: Ken Fountain

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