Alkali Industry in Western Europe

Chlorine. In 2001,9.72 MM tons of chlorine was consumed in Western Europe. Chlorine consumption is projected to increase by 0.2% per year through 2010 [6]. 

Production of chlorinated solvents, which include carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, PCE, and TCE, is expected to decline because of environmental concerns. The demand for methyl chloride will also decrease, as Bayer has developed a new process for producing silicones, where the byproduct hydrochloric acid is fed back to the system, regenerating methyl chloride. 

Epichlorohydrin, used in the manufacture of epoxy resins, is expected to grow, while the use of monochloroacetic acid and benzyl chloride is expected to remain at the same levels as in 1996. The use of chlorine for the production of chloroprene is expected to decline because of competition from low-cost elastomers. 

The chlorobenzene market will decline in Western Europe because of competition from Eastern Europe and the declining end-use applications. The major outlet for monochlorobenzene is nitrochlorobenzene, which will be produced outside Western Europe. 

Chlorine demand for ethyl chloride declined by 13% per year through the year 2000 because of the decreased production of tetraethyl lead. 

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