BAUXITE & ALUMINA CONF: Northeast Asia becoming top caustic consumer as market enters upswing, IHS says

By Andrea Hotter / March 01, 2018 / www.metalbulletin.com / Article Link

Northeast Asia is becoming the "price-maker" for caustic soda going forward, with the market in a price upswing cycle, according to an analyst at IHS Global Chlor-Alkali.

"The Northeast Asia region has become today's caustic consumption powerhouse," Hazel Kreuz said, referring to China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea. "It is shifting to the high cost global chlor-alkali region, becoming the price-maker," she added.Alumina is separated from bauxite by using a hot solution of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and lime (calcium oxide) - two key raw materials. The chlor-alkali process is the technology used to produce chlorine and caustic soda.According to Kreuz, caustic is in a price upcycle globally, and prices will continue to rise until new capacity comes on stream - albeit at a slower rate than in 2017."All regions will see rising caustic margins," she told delegates at Metal Bulletin's 24th Bauxite and Alumina conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica.Global...

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