Competitive Suplier

Chlorine production and utilisation rates have plummeted. Our competitiveness is at stake as caustic imports increased and downstream product exports decreased, while utilisation rates in competing regions remained normal.

Johan Van Den Broeck

CHAIRMAN  OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Changes to members and partners

Euro Chlor welcomed eight new partners over the past year. There have also been some changes to members, with International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), who own Vynova, also taking over French member MSSA as well as Evonik’s site in Lülsdorf, Germany. We regularly report on member and partner news on the news section of the Euro Chlor website.

2022 Chlorine Production

According to figures reported by our members to Cefic, 8,069 kilotonnes of chlorine were produced in 2022; 16.5% lower than 2021. This is most likely due to the decline in economic activity, combined with our loss in competitiveness caused by the increase in energy prices in Europe compared to the rest of the world (initiated by our higher CO2 / energy costs and aggravated by the Russian war). Utilisation rate, meanwhile, decreased from 82.5% in 2021 to 68.5% in 2022, while installed capacity increased by almost 1% over the past year.

Lowest chlorine production levels in 20 years.

Manufacturing Technology

Membrane remains the dominant technology to produce chlor-alkali in Europe, representing 86.2% of installed EU capacity. Diaphragm technology, meanwhile, represents 9.5% of capacity and the remaining 4.4% covers chlorine-alcoholate production, hydrochloric acid conversion to chlorine, metal production and chlorine and caustic production without hydrogen as a by-product.

86.2% of European chlor-alkali uses membrane-based production technology

Note: Figure for vented hydrogen varies from that under Climate Neutral Player due to difference in products covered and different reporting lines.

Electricity and CO2 costs

To measure our competitiveness, in 2021 Euro Chlor started to publish available data on the cost of electricity in Europe compared to the USA and the cost of CO2 in Europe compared to other regions in the world. During 2022, we saw a sharp increase in the delta of electricity costs (50 Euro/MWH compared to 9 Euro/MWH in 2021) between the USA and European averages.

CO2 prices around the world

To measure our competitiveness, in 2021 Euro Chlor started to publish available data on the cost of electricity in Europe compared to the USA and the cost of CO2 in Europe compared to other regions in the world. During 2022, we saw a sharp increase in the delta of electricity costs (50 Euro/MWH compared to 9 Euro/MWH in 2021) between the USA and European averages.

Net caustic soda imports

The level of net import of caustic soda (as 50%) into the EU is another new competitiveness metric implemented by Euro Chlor. This had been decreasing since 2018, but in 2022 the trend reversed and net imports started to increase again. The peak in 2018 was mainly caused by the completion of the last mercury conversion projects.

Chlorine production plants 1st January 2023 capacities

Process:
D = diaphragm
M = membrane
“Others” includes HCI electrolysis, ODC molten salt electrolysis, alcoholates.

Non Euro Chlor members are indicated in italics.

Country

Company

Site

Total

D

M

Others
1 Austria Donau Chemie Brückl 78 78
Austria Total 78 0 78 0
3 Belgium INOVYN Lillo 500 500
4 Belgium INOVYN Jemeppe 174 174
5 Belgium Vynova Tessenderlo 400 400
Belgium Total 1074 0 1074 0
7 Czech Republik Spolek (Spolchemie) Ústí nad Labem 78 78
Czech Republik Total 78 0 78 0
9 Finland Kemira Joutseno 75 75
Finland Total 75 0 75 0
10 France Vynova PPC Thann 42 42
11 France Vencorex Pont de Claix 119 119
12 France KEM ONE Fos 333 178 155
13 France Arkema Jarrie 75 75
14 France KEM ONE Lavera 341 341
15 France Arkema Saint-Auban 20 20
16 France MSSA Pomblière 42 42
18 France INEOS Inovyn Tavaux 370 370
19 France Kuhlmann France Loos 35 35
France Total 1377 178 1157 42
20 Germany BASF Ludwigshafen 595
21 Germany Covestro Dormagen 480 400 80
22 Germany Covestro Leverkusen 390 390
23 Germany Covestro Krefeld-Ürdingen 290 290
24 Germany Covestro Brunsbüttel 220 220
25 Germany Dow Schkopau 253 253
26 Germany Westlake Vinnolit Hürth-Knapsack 250 250
27 Germany CABB GmbH Gersthofen 57 55 2
28 Germany Dow Stade 1624 1024 600
29 Germany Neolyse Ibbenbüren GmbH Ibbenbüren 82 82
30 Germany Nobian Bitterfeld 99 99
31 Germany Lülsdorf Functional Solutions Lülsdorf 77 77
33 Germany Nobian Frankfurt 283 283
34 Germany INEOS Inovyn Rheinberg 220 110 110
35 Germany VESTOLIT Marl 260 260
36 Germany Westlake Vinnolit Gendorf 205 205
37 Germany Wacker Chemie Burghausen 60   60  
96 Germany LEUNA-Harze Leuna 15   15  
Germany Total 5460 1134 3351 379
94 Greece Kapachim Inofita Viotias 10 10
Greece Total 10 0 10 0
39 Hungary BorsodChem Kazincbarcika 480 384 96
Hungary Total 480 0 384 96
40 Ireland Micro Bio Fermoy 11 11
Ireland Total 11 0 11 0
41 Italy Altair Chimica (ESSECO GROUP) Saline di Volterra 75 75
42 Italy Gestioni Industriali Group (GIG) Bussi 18 18
44 Italy Gestioni Industriali Group (GIG) Assemini 27 27
49 Italy INEOS Inovyn Rosignano 150 150
50 Italy Hydrochem Italia (ESSECO GROUP) Pieve Vergonte 42 42
93 Italy Fater Campochiaro 20 20
99 Italy Gestioni Industriali Group (GIG) Torviscosa 24 24
Italy Total 356 0 356 0
51 The Netherlands Nobian Botlek 637 637
52 The Netherlands Nobian Delfzijl 121 121
54 The Netherlands Sabic Bergen op Zoom 89   89
The Netherlands Total 847 0 847 0
55 Norway Borregaard Sarpsborg 45 45
56 Norway Elkem Bremanger 11 11
57 Norway INOVYN Rafnes 315 315
Norway Total 371 0 371 0
58 Poland PCC Rokita Brzeg Dolny 210 210
60 Poland Anwil Wloclawek 195 195
Poland Total 405 0 405 0
62 Portugal Bondalti Chemicals Estarreja 142 94 48
Portugal Total 142 0 94 48
91 Romania Chimcomplex Râmnicu Vâlcea 106   106  
92 Romania Chimcomplex Borzeşti 102   102  
Romania Total 208 0 208 0
63 Slovak Republik Fortischem Nováky 70   70  
Slovak Republik Total 70 0 70 0
88 Slovenia TKI Hrastnik Hrastnik 16   16  
Slovenia Total 16 0 16 0
64 Spain Electroquimica Onubense Huelva/Palos 44 44
65 Spain Ercros Sabiñanigo 45 45
66 Spain Ercros Vila-seca 172 172
67 Spain Electroquimica de Hernani Hernani 30 30
70 Spain Quimica del Cinca Monzón 50 50
72 Spain Bondalti Chemicals Torrelavega 60 60
100 Spain Biomca Química Santa Cruz de Tenerife 3 3
72 Spain Covestro Tarragona 100 100
Spain Total 504 0 404 100
75 Sweden INOVYN Stenungsund 123 123
Sweden Total 123 0 123 0
77 Switzerland CABB AG Pratteln 47 47
Switzerland Total 47 0 47 0
85 UK Brenntag Thetford 7 7
97 UK Industrial Chemicals Ltd West Thurrock 44 44
98 UK Runcorn MCP Runcorn 440 440
UK Total 491 0 491 0
Grand Total 12222 1312 9651 664
Per process 11,3% 83,0% 5,7%

Click here to get a visual overview of our member manufacturing locations, countries where our members operate and their capacity. Also click on the links below to see the Euro Chlor members and partners.

Euro Chlor members
Euro Chlor partners
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