
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

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 | INEOS Inovyn | Lillo | 500 | 500 | ||
4 | Belgium | INEOS 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 | 38 | 38 | ||
France Total | 1381 | 178 | 1161 | 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 | 60 | 60 | ||
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 | 514 | 0 | 414 | 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 | 12,236 | 1,312 | 9665 | 665 | |||
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.