Glass Soda Ash Consumption to Reach 49 Million Metric Tons by 2012

Growth in the soda ash industry continues to be influenced by three key factors -- economy, prices, and supply and demand scenario of chemicals. Soda ash consumption can be considered a strong indicator of strength of economies. This is because demand for soda ash is mainly driven by glass, an important constituent of the two volatile industries - automobile manufacture and building industry. Though soda ash consumption has been relatively flat over the past decade, renewed demand stems from China and other developing economies of Asia and Latin America. Demand is mainly being driven by strong demand for float glass, buoyed by heavy construction activity in these regions.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) October 30, 2008 -- Global market for soda ash is projected to reach 49 million metric tons by 2012, reflecting a CAGR of 3.56% for the period 2008-2012. Asia-Pacific represents the largest as well as fastest growing market for soda ash with an estimated 17.2 million metric tons in 2008. Soda ash is primarily used in the manufacture of glass bottles and other glass containers. It also finds use in the manufacture of mirrors, windows, glass fibers, television tubes, glassware, labware, lighting ware, and tableware. Worldwide demand for soda ash in the glass industry is projected to reach 27.9 million metric tons by 2012, from an estimated 23.9 million metric tons in 2008.

As stated by the recent report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., global demand for soda ash in the chemical industry is estimated at 10.2 million metric tons in 2008. Soda ash is also used in water treatment for controlling pH levels, and in the pulp and paper industries for wood fiber pulping. In the detergent industry, soda ash is used in dry detergent applications as the prime alkali to make phosphates and silicates.

Soda Ash: A Global Strategic Business Report  
In 2007, the worldwide installed soda ash capacity stood at 47.4 million tons with China and the US leading the pack. The industry has been witnessing extremely high capacity utilization (85-88%) world over, and the trend is expected to remain same till 2012. The projection includes 6 million tons of additional capacities scheduled to come in line by 2010-2011. Consumption of soda ash per person is expected to register healthy rise in the next few years with china leading the rankings with nearly 50% rise in consumption from 10.85 kilograms in 2007 to an expected 15.75 kilograms in 2012.

Major global players profiled in the report include Ciech Chemical Group, DC Chemical Co. Ltd., FMC Corporation, Hubei Shuanghuan Chemical Group, Nirma Ltd., Searles Valley Minerals, OCI Chemical Corporation, Penrice Soda Products, Shandong Haihua Co. Ltd., Solvay, Soda Sanayi, TATA Chemicals, General Chemical Industrial Products Inc. and Brunner Mond Group.

The report titled "Soda Ash: A Global Strategic Business Report" published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, product overview, key markets worldwide, product introductions/innovations, and recent industry activity. The report highlights market drivers, and challenges, in addition to outlining the changing competitive landscape. The report analyzes market data and analytics for major geographic regions including the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Spain, Russia, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Latin America, and Rest of World. End-use segments analyzed include Glass (Container Glass, Flat Glass, Fiber Glass, Other Glass), Chemicals, Soaps & Detergents, Pulp & Paper, Fluegas Desulfurization, Water Treatment, and Miscellaneous Applications.
  
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