The Orbia company reported that it increased its production of chlorine and caustic soda in Mexico at a double digit rate in 2020.

On the one hand, the company‘s chlorine production was 156,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 11.4 percent.

Meanwhile, its caustic soda production totaled 175,000 tons, an increase of 12.2% year-on-year.

In Mexico, caustic soda has a large number of industrial uses, standing out in organic chemicals (20%), inorganic chemicals (21%), as well as in the production of soaps and detergents (24 percent).

The total caustic soda production capacity in Mexico in 2020 was 594,000 tons and that of chlorine was 551,000 tons.

Likewise, in 2020, the demand for chlorine in Mexico totaled 198,000 tons, while the demand for caustic soda totaled 374,000 tons, according to IHS Markit.

Both are co-products that result from the disintegration of salt into components through the electrolysis process.

Chlorine

Although this product is used in a large number of chemical processes, its main use is in the production of vinyl resins for the manufacture of PVC.

For its part, caustic soda is used in the production of pulp and paper, organic chemicals, soaps and detergents, textiles, oils and aluminum.

In general, the demand for chlorine depends on the construction sector while the demand for caustic soda depends on the manufacturing sector.

Most chlor-alkali producers are regional, with the Dow Chemical Company being a notable exception, as it is a multinational and global company with a strong presence in North America and Europe.