In Europe (including Turkey), the production capacities of baking soda are estimated at about 1.6 million tonnes per year. The biggest producer both in Europe and globally is Solvay, owning factories in seven countries. Currently, the CIECH Group with production capacity at 150 thousand tonnes per year is, ex aequo with Novacarb, the second largest producer in Europe (and third after Solvay and Sisecam in the region including Turkey).
Much like the soda ash markets, Polish and European markets for baking soda are mature markets, not volatile to rapid changes, with yearly growth of a few percent per year.
In the coming years, above average dynamics can be expected within the scope of hemodialysis due to an increase in incidence of illnesses related with modern lifestyle in developed countries (primarily kidney diseases caused by diabetes). Due to growing requirements of environmental protection, a major increase in usage of baking soda for fumes desulphurisation is expected.
The fodder industry is usually the most vulnerable to economic shifts among the target sectors for baking soda. In Poland however, this sector is less vulnerable than in most markets in Europe. These fluctuations in Poland are less severe than elsewhere in the continent.
European producers of baking soda continue to work towards intensification of production of baking soda at the expense of soda ash.