Turkey imported 563,000 tons of caustic soda in aqueous solution in 2019, up 66% from 2019. With imports through March 2020 totaling 148,000 tons, the upward trend looks to continue.
A strong base, caustic soda is used across many industries, in the production of alumina, paper, pulp, plastics, soap, and other chemicals.
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Russia, France, and Egypt have alternated as Turkey’s top source of caustic soda since 2017. Russia has provided the greatest overall volume since that time, at the steadiest rate – both in terms of volume and price per ton. From a low in Q1 2018, imports from Egypt have grown steadily, peaking in November 2019. Volumes from France peaked that same month, having grown steadily since late 2018.
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As of March 2020 YTD, Turkey has imported 40,000 tons of caustic soda from France (up 43% versus the same period last year), 34,000 tons from Egypt (up 9%), 33,000 tons from Russia (up 6%), 18,000 tons from Belgium (up 630%), and 10,000 tons from Romania (up 213%).
By Christiana Fierro. Data from International Trader Publications’ Caustic Soda in Aqueous Solution World Trade Report, a continuously updated online analysis of global trade in caustic soda.