Caustic soda is an important chemical used in many industries around the world. In 2022, the total volume of caustic soda production in the world amounted to 98 million tons. Most of the world's caustic soda production capacity is located in the Asia-Pacific region. China is the world's largest producer of caustic soda, with a total output of 34 million tons in 2020. Japan, India and South Korea are other major caustic soda producers in the world.
The market for caustic soda is growing because of its wide range of applications and ever-increasing demand. In particular, the product is widely used in water treatment, detergents, paper, pulp, textile, and glass industries. Global consumption of caustic soda in 2020 was approximately 76 million tons. The demand for caustic soda continues to grow, due to its use in the food and petrochemical industries.
Prices for caustic soda depend on supply and demand factors. In 2020, caustic soda prices remained low due to the global pandemic. However, as the effects of the pandemic subsided, caustic soda prices began to rise again. In 2023, global average caustic soda prices will fluctuate between $400 and $800 per ton.
As of 2020, global caustic soda production was about 75 million tons, reaching nearly 100 million tons in 2022. This figure is expected to increase at an annual growth rate of 3 to 4 percent through 2025.
Since caustic soda can be used in the production of various products, the export and import of this product around the world is quite active. In 2022, sales of caustic soda were close to $40 billion.
The largest caustic soda producing countries include the United States, China, Russia, India, and European states. In 2020, approximately 34 percent of global caustic soda production will come from Asia-Pacific, 31 percent from Europe, and 19 percent from North America.
In addition to producing countries, global companies such as Dow Chemical, Olin Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Tata Chemicals and Formosa Plastics Corporation are also producing caustic soda. These companies continually invest in reducing costs and improving efficiency by following technological developments in caustic soda production.
Caustic soda is used for various purposes in various industries, such as in the chemical industry for neutralizing acids and as a catalyst in production processes, in the oil industry for refinery processes, in the paper and pulp industry for pulp production, in the glass industry for glass production, in the detergent industry for detergents, in the food industry as a food additive, and in the textile industry for bleaching and dyeing.
Nurmyrat Mommayev,
PhD Candidate at Marmara University's Department of Political Science and International Relations in Istanbul, Turkey
