18 March 1999: According to a recent press report, soda ash consumption in the US is improving, although caustic soda consumption in the pulp and paper industry is expected to drop slightly in 1999.
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18 March 1999: According to a recent press report, soda ash consumption in the US is improving, although caustic soda consumption in the pulp and paper industry is expected to drop slightly in 1999. Meanwhile, US production of natural soda ash rose 3% in November 1998 to 860,000 tonnes. The ending inventory for the month rose slightly to about 323,000 tonnes. Apparent consumption for October was up 5% on the previous year at 560,000 tonnes. IMC Global is to sell its majority interest in its IMC Chemicals business, which includes its soda ash operations, to Mincorp LLC. OCI is to undertake an 800,000 tonnes/year expansion of its soda ash capacity and will mothball 900,000 tonnes of older capacity, resulting in a 100,000 tonnes reduction in its current net capacity. In 1998, estimated caustic soda consumption in the US pulp and paper industry was 2.45 million tonnes, unchanged from 1997. Caustic soda consumption is forecast to fall to 2.44 million tonnes and will remain unchanged in 2000. US chlor-alkali producers are recording utilization rates of 93-95%. US sodium sulphate consumption in pulping operations has fallen from 260,000 tonnes in 1992 to 210,000 tonnes in 1996. Current demand for sodium sulphate is put at 80,000-100,000 tonnes. 976,000 tonnes of lime were sold to or used by pulp and paper producers in 1997. Over 50% of sodium sulphate“s 102,000 tonnes/year demand is used in the pulping industry.