Global Caustic Soda Market 2019 | Solvay S.A., Akzo Nobel N.V., Dow Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical

IndexBox has just published a new report, the World - Caustic Soda - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The global caustic soda market revenue amounted to $19.8B in 2017, increasing by 25% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% over the period from 2007 to 2017; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017, when the market value increased by 25% against the previous year. In that year, the global caustic soda market reached its peak level, and is likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

Production 2007-2017

In 2017, the global production of caustic soda stood at 54M tonnes, going up by 1.6% against the previous year.

Exports 2007-2017

In 2017, approx. 22M tonnes of caustic soda were exported worldwide; picking up by 24% against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2007 to 2017; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010, with an increase of 24% year-to-year. Global exports peaked in 2017, and are likely to continue its growth in the near future.

In value terms, caustic soda exports totaled $5.9B (IndexBox estimates) in 2017. In general, the total exports indicated a strong growth from 2007 to 2017: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2017 figures, the caustic soda exports increased by +49.0% against 2015 indices. Over the period under review, global caustic soda exports attained their peak figure in 2017, and are likely to see steady growth in the near future.

Exports by Country

In 2017, the U.S. (6.6M tonnes) was the major exporter for caustic soda, comprising 30% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Germany (2.5M tonnes), the Netherlands (1.6M tonnes), China (1.5M tonnes), Taiwan, Chinese (1.4M tonnes), Japan (1.4M tonnes) and Belgium (1.2M tonnes), together comprising 43% share of total exports. France (933K tonnes), Saudi Arabia (748K tonnes), Russia (442K tonnes), the UK (424K tonnes) and South Korea (400K tonnes) took the little share of total exports.

The U.S. was also the fastest growing in terms of the caustic soda exports, with a CAGR of +12.7% from 2007 to 2017. At the same time, the Netherlands (+9.5%), South Korea (+3.0%), France (+2.6%) and Belgium (+1.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. China, Japan, Germany, Russia and the UK experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Taiwan, Chinese (-1.0%) and Saudi Arabia (-2.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. The Netherlands (-4.3%) and the U.S. (-20.7%) significantly weakened its position in terms of the global exports, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the U.S. ($1.5B) remains the largest caustic soda supplier worldwide, comprising 26% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by China ($683M), with a 12% share of global exports. It was followed by Germany, with a 9.3% share.

Export Prices by Country

In 2017, the average caustic soda export price amounted to $263 per tonne, jumping by 13% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.8%.

Export prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest export price was South Korea ($453 per tonne), while the Netherlands ($177 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was attained by Taiwan, Chinese, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports 2007-2017

In 2017, the global imports of caustic soda stood at 23M tonnes, jumping by 16% against the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.4% from 2007 to 2017; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations in certain years.

In value terms, caustic soda imports stood at $6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2017.

Imports by Country

In 2017, Australia (5.7M tonnes), distantly followed by Brazil (2.7M tonnes) and the Netherlands (1.5M tonnes) were the key importers of caustic soda, together comprising 43% of total imports. The following importers - the U.S. (911K tonnes), Finland (903K tonnes), Belgium (786K tonnes), France (691K tonnes), Sweden (675K tonnes), Austria (656K tonnes), Italy (614K tonnes), Germany (546K tonnes) and Spain (487K tonnes) together made up 27% of total imports.

From 2007 to 2017, average annual rates of growth with regard to caustic soda imports into Australia stood at +4.4%. At the same time, Spain (+14.7%), Germany (+7.3%), Italy (+6.6%), the Netherlands (+6.6%), Brazil (+5.4%), France (+4.2%), Austria (+2.0%) and Sweden (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Spain emerged as the fastest growing importer in the world, with a CAGR of +14.7% from 2007-2017. Finland, the U.S. and Belgium experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. From 2007 to 2017, the share of Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil and Australia decreased by -1.6%, -3%, -4.8% and -8.8% percentage points, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Australia ($1.1B) constitutes the largest market for imported caustic soda worldwide, comprising 19% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Brazil ($516M), with a 8.6% share of global imports. It was followed by the U.S., with a 4.5% share.

Import Prices by Country

In 2017, the average caustic soda import price amounted to $262 per tonne, going up by 17% against the previous year. Over the period from 2007 to 2017, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%.

There were significant differences in the average import prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2017, the country with the highest import price was the U.S. ($298 per tonne), while the Netherlands ($124 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2017, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Australia, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform