Caustic Soda Price Per Ton

From 2019 to 2022, the global caustic soda market demand maintained a fluctuating growth trend, increasing from 80 million tons to 84.52 million tons, with an average annual compound growth rate of about 1.9%; among them, Asia (accounting for 62.8%), Europe and North America are the world's major caustic soda demand markets. On the supply side, driven by strong demand, global caustic soda production capacity and output have basically maintained a growth trend. By the end of 2022, global caustic soda production capacity reached 103.52 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%, and output reached 87.17 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%; among them, Asia (accounting for 63.7%), North America and Western Europe are the world's major caustic soda supply markets.

There are two methods for producing caustic soda: causticizing and electrolysis. The causticizing method is divided into soda ash causticizing method and natural soda causticizing method according to the raw materials; the electrolysis method can be divided into diaphragm electrolysis method and ion exchange membrane method. In the soda ash causticizing method, soda ash and lime are respectively causticized to make soda ash solution and lime milk, and the causticizing reaction is carried out at 99~101°C. The causticized liquid is clarified and evaporated to concentrate to more than 40% to obtain liquid caustic soda. The concentrated liquid is further boiled and solidified to obtain a solid caustic soda product. The causticized mud is washed with water, and the washing water is used for alkali. The reaction equation is as follows: Na2CO3+Ca(OH)2→2NaOH+CaCO3↓.

There are two types of caustic soda on the market: solid and liquid. Pure solid caustic soda is white, in the form of blocks, flakes, rods, or granules, and is brittle; pure liquid caustic soda is a colorless, transparent liquid. Solid caustic soda has strong hygroscopicity. It is easily soluble in water, releases heat when dissolved, and its aqueous solution is alkaline and greasy. It is soluble in ethanol and glycerol; it is insoluble in acetone and ether. It is extremely corrosive and has a corrosive effect on fibers, skin, glass, ceramics, etc. It reacts with metals such as aluminum and zinc, non-metals such as boron and silicon to release hydrogen; it undergoes disproportionation reactions with halogens such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine; it neutralizes with acids to produce salt and water.

In recent years, the growth rate of global caustic soda production capacity has generally fluctuated between 4% and 6%. In 2012, global caustic soda production capacity expanded significantly, with a capacity growth rate of 9.42%, and an annual capacity increase of about 7.959 million tons. The reason for the large increase may be that the global consumption demand, especially in China, a major caustic soda consumer, continued to expand from 2010 to 2011, and the growth rate was at a historically high level. In 2011, China's consumption growth rate was 14.88%. Since 2012, the growth rate of global caustic soda production capacity has slowed down. As of the end of 2020, the global caustic soda production capacity reached 99.959 million tons.

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