Caustic soda demand

Chemical Manufacturing. Chemical manufacturing accounts for over 50% of all U.S. caustic soda demand. It is used primarily for pH control, neutralization, off-gas scmbbing, and as a catalyst. About 50% of the total demand in this category, or approximately 25% of overall U.S. consumption, is used in the manufacture of organic intermediates, polymers, and end products. The majority of caustic soda required here is for the production of propylene oxide, polycarbonate resin, epoxies, synthetic fibers, and surface-active agents (6). 

Cellulosics. Rayon and other cellulose products such as cellophane and cellulose ethers (qv) consume 1.9% of U.S. caustic soda demand. Because of competitive products, however, this market has been decreasing since 1965 and forecasted average annual growth through 1992 is less than 0.4% (6) (see Cotton). 

With PVC being the main driver for chlorine demand there is increasing pressure on the need to obtain cheap power, salt and ethylene feedstocks. Export-driven EDC and caustic plants have some place in meeting world demand though with the need to export both chlorine, in the form of EDC, and caustic soda there can be occasions when these plants are vulnerable to low returns if demand is much lower than supply. Traditional locations for these plants have been in the US Gulf and the Middle East, but there are plans to site such plants in Venezuela and Australia with both these countries having a large caustic soda demand in alumina. 

The most consistent outlet for chlorine will continue to be vinyl chloride, and future growth is tied to its fortunes. With its wide variety of uses, caustic soda demand generally reflects the health of the entire U.S. economy. The unpredictable financial returns attributable to the co-products will make it very difficult for producers to manage the large capital outlays required as aging diaphragm plants are replaced by membrane facilities. 

TABLE 3.4. United States Caustic Soda Demand... 

The major end use of caustic in Eastern Europe is the production of rayon fibers, accounting for 10-12% of the region s caustic soda demand. This may be compared with the world average of 4%. Other applications include wood pulping, petroleum processing, and the production of alumina. 

Gibson, J. 2004. Caustic Soda Demand Breaks Ten-Year Record. European Chemical News. 80 (May 24) 10. 

The world caustic soda demand was 44.3 million tonnes in 1997. 

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