Soda ash: European market review

Abstract

While sales volumes in the container and flat glass sector are much higher in Western Europe, it is the Central/Eastern Europe that is registering the highest growth. Western Europe is witnessing flat or declining growth in the container glass sector. The flat glass sector is enjoying slightly better fortunes. The following graphs give the forecast of soda ash demand in Europe in the container and flat glass sector. While, soda ash consumption in container glass in Western Europe is expected to decline in the coming years, the increase in demand for soda ash in the central and the CIS and Baltic regions is expected to more than make up for the decline in the west. Soda ash demand from the flat glass sector is expected to grow in all regions. As the table below suggests, the overall change in demand expected in the region is positive.