ICIS is implementing a process of rolling consultation on all of its methodologies. This consultation paper is part of this formal process and covers all of the ICIS primary price points included in the soda ash weekly publications.
The consultation asked both general questions about the suitability of the ICIS methodology and questions addressing specific soda ash market issues.
Click here to download the Soda Ash Methodology Consultation
Soda Ash Methodology Consultation – Summary of responses
Following the announcement that ICIS would be launching a formal methodology consultation process, we received two confidential responses from key market players.
In summary, the points raised by the respondents were:
- One request to add assessments for synthetic soda ash in the US, Europe and Latin America.
- One request to provide information on the percentage of the market surveyed by ICIS, and the response rate.
- One request to add bagged or packaged assessments.
- One request to align the quarterly contract periods between the US and Europe.
Final decision
- The assessments in the ICIS Europe report are primarily for synthetic soda ash. In the US report, the assessments include both natural and synthetic, and there is no significant price difference between the two. Consequently, it would not be realistic to quote synthetic material separately in the US.
- Soda ash is an illiquid market, and so it is not practicable for ICIS to give the number of contributors to the reports.
- In surveying the market in Europe and the US, bagged or packaged material is never mentioned. ICIS will look into whether this could be added for the Indian market.
- The quarterly contract periods between the US and Europe will be aligned from the end of December 2015.
To provide further comments or feedback please contact Barbara Ortner, Head of Market Reporting: Barbara.Ortner@icis.com
