Asia to lead global caustic soda capacity additions by 2027

Asia is set to lead the global caustic soda industry capacity additions with a share of 62% by 2027, by gaining capacities from new-build and expansion projects between 2023 and 2027, says GlobalData, the data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, Caustic Soda Industry Capacity and Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Forecast by Region and Countries Including Details of All Active Plants, Planned and Announced Projects, 2022-2027 shows that the total caustic soda capacity of new-build and expansion projects in Asia is expected to be 3.98 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2027. Increased application of caustic soda in pulp & paper, soap and detergents, and the textile industry is expected to lead to caustic soda industry growth in Asia.

Nivedita Roy, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “From the upcoming new-build projects, the region is expected to add a capacity of 1.31mtpa from six planned and announced projects, whereas, from the expansion of the existing caustic soda projects, the region is anticipated to add a capacity of 2.67mtpa from 11 planned and announced projects.”

India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea are the key countries in Asia in terms of caustic soda capacity additions. The main capacity addition in India will come from an announced project, Lords Chloro Alkali Alwar Caustic Soda Plant, with a capacity of 0.74mtpa. It is expected to commence production of caustic soda in 2023.

Nivedita concludes: “In China, the main capacity addition will be from a planned project Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Company Baicheng Caustic Soda Plant, with a capacity of 0.40mtpa and expected to come online by 2023.”