Competitive Supplier
Chlor-alkali chemistry has been vital during the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to be so for Europe’s future
Wouter Bleukx
Chairman of the Management Committee
Members invested in sustainable solutions during COVID-19 and new partners joined
Industry investments continued in 2020/2021 along the entire chlor-alkali value chain, especially in projects relating to sustainability and hydrogen. In addition, the Euro Chlor family expanded further with new partners joining. Below are the member news published in the last year, that can also be found here:
EVONIK TO DIVEST LÜLSDORF SITE IN MEDIUM TERM
JACQUES STURM OF VYNOVA ELECTED AS CHAIR AT FIRST HALOGENS INDUSTRY SECTOR BOARD
NOBIAN AND SALINS GROUP COMPLETE DIVESTMENT OF SALT SPECIALTIES
PRODUITS CHIMIQUES DE LOOS IS RENAMED KUHLMANN FRANCE
CABB IMPROVES ITS ECOVADIS RATING AND INVESTS IN SUSTAINABILITY
ALAIN DE KRASSNY NEGOTIATES WITH THE APOLLO FUNDS FOR SALE OF KEM ONE GROUP
VYNOVA TO BUILD NEW POTASSIUM CARBONATE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN TESSENDERLO
GESTIONI INDUSTRIALI SRL (GIG) BUYS CHLOR-ALKALI BRANCH OF ING. LUIGI CONTI VECCHI SPA
INOVYN PUBLISHES ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS (EPDS) FOR CHLOR-ALKALI AND PVC
GEMÜ VALVES, MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEMS BECOMES NEW PARTNER
NOURYON ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO SPIN-OUT NOBIAN
AL-BAHA COMPANY FOR CAUSTIC-CHLORINE IND. BECOMES NEW PARTNER
ERCROS WILL DOUBLE ITS SODIUM CHLORITE PRODUCTION CAPACITY
QATAR VINYL COMPANY LIMITED (QVC) BECOMES NEW PARTNER
KEM ONE TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT ELECTROLYSIS UNIT CONVERSION
ARKEMA JOINS DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY WORLD (DJSI) INDEX
CHIMCOMPLEX TO DEVELOP CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS
INOVYN TO DECARBONISE IN FRANCE
SCB SOCIETÀ CHIMICA BUSSI S.P.A. PUBLISHES SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED VIDEO
INVESTMENT PROGRAMME AT CABB PRATTELN SITE
NOURYON ANNOUNCES RENAMING OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS SUBSIDIARY
COVESTRO RECEIVES ISCC PLUS CERTIFICATION
CABB PUBLISHES NEW SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ERCROS LAUNCHES ITS 3D PLAN (2021-2025)
COVESTRO AND NPRC PLAN TO USE HYDROGEN-POWERED BARGES
BORREGAARD RECOGNISED WITH 'A’ SCORE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
KEMIRA SIGNS NEW WIND POWER DEAL TO FURTHER REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
INOVYN JOINS HYNET CONSORTIUM
ERCROS OBTAINS DISTINCTION IN ECOVADIS RATING
COVESTRO’S CHLORINE PRODUCTION IN UERDINGEN EXPANDED
VINNOLIT TO OFFER GREEN CAUSTIC SODA WITH REDUCED CO2 FOOTPRINT
VYNOVA LAUNCHES ISCC PLUS-CERTIFIED RENEWABLE CAUSTIC SODA
BONDALTI HELPS STUDENTS WITH FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EVONIK PART OF NEW ALLIANCE FOR EUROPEAN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GREEN HYDROGEN
INOVYN LAUNCHES CLEAN HYDROGEN PROJECT TO SUPPORT DECARBONISATION IN NORWAY
BASF PRESENTS ROADMAP TO CLIMATE NEUTRALITY
VYNOVA WINS PVC PRODUCER AWARD FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
INOVYN SUPPLIES SUSTAINABLE PVC TO 'THE HOPE PROJECT'
VENCOREX RENEWS ITS ISO CERTIFICATIONS
COVESTRO IMPLEMENTS NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR MDI PRODUCTION
VYNOVA STARTS TO PRODUCE CIRCULAR-ATTRIBUTED PVC
CHIMCOMPLEX DONATES SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE TO SEVERAL PLACES IN NEED
NOURYON OUTLINES SUSTAINABILITY APPROACH
LED BY INOVYN, INEOS LAUNCHED CLEAN HYDROGEN BUSINESS
2020 Chlorine Production
According to Cefic figures, 9,221 kilotonnes of chlorine were produced in 2020, which is 2% lower compared to 2019. This is most likely an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Review our monthly overview of chlorine and caustic soda production here.
Utilisation rate, meanwhile, decreased from 81% in 2019 to 79.5% in 2020.
Manufacturing Technology
Membrane remains the dominant technology to produce chlor-alkali in Europe, representing 85.2% of the installed EU capacity. Diaphragm technology, meanwhile, represents 11.1% of capacity and the remaining 3.8% covers chlorine-alcoholate production, hydrochloric acid conversion to chlorine, metal production and chlorine and caustic production without hydrogen as a by-product.
85.2% of European chlor-alkali uses membrane-based production technology
European Chlorine and Caustic Soda applications in 2020
You can see our new chlorine, caustic soda and caustic potash trees for a detailed overview of the wide range of products and uses.
Chlorine production plants
1st January 2020 capacities
| Country | Company | Site | Total | D | M | Others |
| Austria | Donau Chemie | Brückl | 75 | 75 | ||
| Austria Total | 75 | 0 | 75 | 0 | ||
| Belgium | INOVYN | Lillo | 500 | 500 | ||
| Belgium | INOVYN | Jemeppe | 174 | 174 | ||
| Belgium | Vynova | Tessenderlo | 400 | 390 | ||
| Belgium Total | 1074 | 0 | 1064 | 0 | ||
| Czech Republik | Spolchemie | Usti | 69 | 69 | ||
| Czech Republik Total | 69 | 0 | 69 | 0 | ||
| Finland | Kemira | Joutseno | 75 | 75 | ||
| Finland Total | 75 | 0 | 75 | 0 | ||
| France | Vynova | Thann | 42 | 42 | ||
| France | VENCOREX | Pont de Claix | 119 | 119 | ||
| France | Kem One | Fos | 333 | 178 | 155 | |
| France | Arkema | Jarrie | 75 | 75 | ||
| France | Kem One | Lavera | 341 | 341 | ||
| France | Arkema | St Auban | 20 | 20 | ||
| France | MSSA | Pomblière | 42 | 42 | ||
| France | INOVYN | Tavaux | 370 | 370 | ||
| France | PC Loos | Loos | 35 | 35 | ||
| France Total | 1378 | 178 | 1158 | 42 | ||
| Germany *) | BASF | Ludwigshafen | 595 | |||
| Germany | Covestro | Dormagen | 480 | 400 | 80 | |
| Germany | Covestro | Leverkusen | 390 | 390 | ||
| Germany | Covestro | Uerdingen | 260 | 234 | 26 | |
| Germany | Covestro | Brunsbuttel | 210 | 210 | ||
| Germany | Dow | Schkopau | 253 | 253 | ||
| Germany | Vinnolit | Knapsack | 250 | 250 | ||
| Germany | CABB GmbH | Gersthofen | 57 | 55 | 2 | |
| Germany | Dow | Stade | 1624 | 1024 | 600 | |
| Germany | Neolyse Ibbenbüren GmbH | Ibbenbüren | 82 | 82 | ||
| Germany | Nobian | Bitterfeld | 99 | 99 | ||
| Germany | Evonik Industries | Lülsdorf | 77 | 77 | ||
| Germany | Nobian | Frankfurt | 283 | 283 | ||
| Germany | INOVYN | Rheinberg | 220 | 110 | 110 | |
| Germany | VESTOLIT | Marl | 260 | 260 | ||
| Germany | Vinnolit | Gendorf | 180 | 180 | ||
| Germany | Wacker Chemie | Burghausen | 55 | 55 | ||
| Germany | LEUNA | Leuna | 15 | 15 | ||
| Germany Total | 5389 | 1134 | 3266 | 394 | ||
| Greece | Kapachim | Inofita Viotias | 10 | 10 | ||
| Greece Total | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Hungary | Borsodchem | Kazincbarcika | 480 | 384 | 96 | |
| Hungary Total | 480 | 0 | 384 | 96 | ||
| Ireland | MicroBio | Fermoy | 10 | 10 | ||
| Ireland Total | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Italy | Altair Chimica (Esseco) | Volterra | 75 | 75 | ||
| Italy | Società Chimica Bussi S.p.A. | Bussi | 18 | 18 | ||
| Italy | Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi | Assemini | 25 | 25 | ||
| Italy | INOVYN | Rosignano | 150 | 150 | ||
| Italy | Hydrochem (Esseco) | Pieve Vergonte | 25 | 25 | ||
| Italy | Halo Industry Spa | Torviscosa | 24 | 24 | ||
| Italy | Fater | Campochiaro | 20 | 20 | ||
| Italy Total | 337 | 0 | 337 | 0 | ||
| The Netherlands | Nouryon | Botlek | 637 | 637 | ||
| The Netherlands | Nouryon | Delfzijl | 121 | 121 | ||
| The Netherlands | Sabic | Bergen op Zoom | 89 | 89 | ||
| The Netherlands Total | 846 | 0 | 846 | 0 | ||
| Norway | Borregaard | Sarpsborg | 40 | 40 | ||
| Norway | Elkem | Bremanger | 11 | 11 | ||
| Norway | INOVYN | Rafnes | 315 | 315 | ||
| Norway Total | 366 | 0 | 366 | 0 | ||
| Poland | PCC Rokita | Brzeg Dolny | 186 | 186 | ||
| Poland | Anwil | Wloclawek | 195 | 195 | ||
| Poland Total | 381 | 0 | 381 | 0 | ||
| Portugal | Bondalti | Estarreja | 142 | 94 | 48 | |
| Portugal Total | 142 | 0 | 94 | 48 | ||
| Romania | Chimcomplex | Rimnicu Valcea | 106 | 106 | ||
| Romania | Chimcomplex | Borzesti | 102 | 102 | ||
| Romania Total | 208 | 0 | 208 | 0 | ||
| Slovak Republik | Fortischem | Novaky | 70 | 70 | ||
| Slovak Republik Total | 70 | 0 | 70 | 0 | ||
| Slovenia | TKI Hrastnik | Hrastnik | 16 | 16 | ||
| Slovenia Total | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Spain | Electroquimica Onubense | Huelva/Palos | 44 | 44 | ||
| Spain | Ercros | Sabinanigo | 45 | 45 | ||
| Spain | Ercros | Vilaseca | 172 | 172 | ||
| Spain | Electroquimica de Hernani | Hernani | 30 | 30 | ||
| Spain | Biomca Química | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 5 | 5 | ||
| Spain | Quimica del Cinca | Monzon | 45 | 45 | ||
| Spain | Tarragona | Covestro | ||||
| Spain | Bondalti | Torrelavega | 68 | 68 | ||
| Spain Total | 409 | 0 | 409 | 0 | ||
| Sweden | INOVYN | Stenungsund | 123 | 123 | ||
| Sweden Total | 123 | 0 | 123 | 0 | ||
| Switzerland | CABB AG | Pratteln | 47 | 47 | ||
| Switzerland Total | 47 | 0 | 47 | 0 | ||
| UK | Runcorn MCP | Runcorn | 440 | 440 | ||
| UK | Brenntag | Thetford | 7 | 7 | ||
| UK | Industrial Chemicals Ltd | West Thurrock | 44 | 44 | ||
| UK Total | 491 | 0 | 491 | 0 | ||
| Grand Total | 11997 | 1312 | 9500 | 580 | ||
| Per process | 11.5% | 83.4% | 5.1% |
Process:
D = diaphragm
M= membrane
“Others” includes HCI electrolysis, ODC molten salt electrolysis, alcoholates.
Non Euro Chlor members are indicated in italics.
Euro Chlor submits data to ETS State Aid Guidelines
Maintaining compensation for the EU ETS costs is a priority within the Competitive Supplier element of Euro Chlor’s Mid-Century Strategy as electricity is one of the key ingredients for chlor-alkali production. In September 2020, the European Commission (EC) launched new EU ETS State Aid Guidelines for indirect costs and held a public consultation to collect input related to the legislative proposals. Using input from its Energy Task Force (TF), Euro Chlor contributed to the Cefic response to the consultation.
In May 2021, the Competition Directorate-General of the EC presented the draft efficiency benchmark value for chlorine for phase IV of the EU Emission Trade System (ETS). The Euro Chlor Energy TF commented on this value, submitting supporting data. Euro Chlor presented this at an online meeting with the EC and an external consultant. The EC subsequently reported that the Euro Chlor data were of good quality and will be considered. The official benchmark and date of publication were unknown at the time of publishing.
Euro Chlor monitors Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Europe’s efforts to become climate-neutral by 2050 could be undermined by a similar lack of ambition by our international partners. This could lead to risk of ‘carbon leakage’, which occurs when companies transfer production to countries that are less strict on emission reductions. A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may counteract this risk by putting a carbon ‘price’ on imports of certain goods from outside the EU.
The EC may now implement CBAMs for the cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity sectors. The proposed CBAM will be linked to the EU’s ETS by mirroring its price. However, it does not consider indirect carbon costs (embedded in electricity consumed) or the impact on EU exports. Therefore, Cefic contracted PwC to investigate the various options and estimate the possible impact of CBAMs on the chemical sector. They will hopefully find proposals that could be used to minimise these negative effects. The results are being used to determine a Cefic position, which will in turn support the MCS priority to level competitive differences with non-EU regions. Euro Chlor is continuously monitoring this key topic and supplying relevant input and feedback to this work.
Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) sets its priorities
Euro Chlor’s Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) examined the possible regulatory actions related to the EU’s Green Deal ambitions. These actions were subsequently prioritised based on the anticipated impact on the chlor-alkali sector and Euro Chlor’s ability to influence the decision-making process. The RAC also examined the best placed Euro Chlor groups to deal with these topics. Specific discussions took place on the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). The RAC concluded that additional KPIs might be needed in future, as part of Euro Chlor’s third Sustainability Programme.
Webinar on EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities and European Industrial Strategy
In June 2021, Euro Chlor organised a webinar to give members insights into two important themes within the current European policy framework: the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities and the 2021 update of the Industrial Strategy.
Proving the value of disinfectants to society
The European chlor-alkali industry has been crucial during the COVID-19 period. During the pandemic, the European Union has been closely following the supply levels of vital disinfectants. As part of this, Euro Chlor members have been supporting a Cefic activity to regularly update authorities on the availability of active chlorine disinfectants.
Furthermore, in December 2020, European Parliament experts voted to approve the Drinking Water Directive recast proposal. The proposal includes new limits for substances in drinking water such as PFAS, chlorate and chlorite, as well as a mechanism to set the minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with drinking water. This new mechanism for companies to register their products (e.g. PVC pipes) will be based on existing national approved lists and is expected to begin at the end of 2024/ early 2025. Euro Chlor has informed members on this topic as it could impact the use of active chlorine as a drinking water disinfectant and in PVC pipes.
Finally, Euro Chlor is following an EC activity assessing options to prevent access to chemicals that could be used by terrorists. One of their concerns is that concentrated hypochlorite (e.g. household bleach) could be easily obtained and could be mixed with an acid to generate chlorine to be released into a community. Euro Chlor is contributing to discussions here and has offered further support (e.g. workshops/ document checks) as appropriate.
First 17 Chlor-Alkali Careers videos launched
Several videos have been released over the past year aimed at boosting our industry’s image as an attractive employer and increasing awareness on the value and uses of chlor-alkali products.
Taking ’17’ as our inspiration (from chlorine’s position on the chemical Periodic Table of elements), 17 Careers presents 17 real Europeans, whose work contributes to producing chlor-alkali chemicals. The first two 17 Chlor-Alkali Careers videos were launched with an interview with Pádraig, a Junior Process Engineer at Micro-Bio and Fenna, an Improvement Engineer at Dow Deutschland. All our #17careers examples can be found at https://www.eurochlor.org/17careers/.
In May 2021, Euro Chlor released a new video that details how chlor-alkali chemicals can help us use energy more efficiently. This will also play a role in Euro Chlor’s ambitions in becoming safer, more competitive and greener by 2050 under the Mid-Century Strategy.
New chlorine, caustic soda and caustic potash trees launched
Also in May 2021, Euro Chlor launched three new interactive trees for chlorine, caustic soda and caustic potash that highlight their uses at a click of a button.
These resources, available in digital and print format, show the rich diversity of chlor-alkali applications and end-products. Contact eurochlor@cefic.org for more information or to order copies.
Euro Chlor Members and Partners
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