Report: Chlor-Alkali Industry to Grow Slowly Through 2012

摘要

The North American chlor-alkali market is expected to grow about 2%/year-3%/year through 2012, to about 11.5 million m.t., in part due to slower recovery in end-user markets, says a recent report from Fitch Ratings. For the rest of 2010, Fitch expects the region to experience gradual volume growth and price stabilization. US producers are expected to benefit from price increases that were implemented in multiple price rounds since the beginning of this year, analysts say. Caustic soda contract prices rose about $200/ton, or 82% since the beginning of 2010, and chlorine prices have remained virtually stable at $290/ton-$320/ton.