The global demand for soda ash is expected to rebound in 2010 thanks to increased demand. According to sector experts, the global soda ash industry is entering the recovery channel. After a 3% decreas…
The global demand for soda ash is expected to rebound in 2010 thanks to increased demand. According to sector experts, the global soda ash industry is entering the recovery channel. After a 3% decrease in 2009, the sector is now expecting a 4% increase, bringing the demand of soda ash back to the 2008 level of 480 million tons per year. Flat glass, the largest end market for soda ash, will become the main driving force to increase the demand of soda ash, with US housing start rates and auto sales on the rebound since 2009, which, in turn, have stimulated the demand of flat glass. Moreover, China, the largest soda ash market, has seen an increase of 5% of soda ash demand, with recent prices rising in the country, and Chinese demand is expected to make up for 50% of the global market. According to the latest survey data, American soda ash output was 930 million tons in 2009, 18% less than that in 2008, with total production capacity of five US soda ash makers at 145 million tons per year.