Ciech

Szukaj
WCAG A A A

Baking soda

The CIECH Group is one of the three largest baking soda producers in Europe.

Baking soda is used mainly in production of animal fodder (as an acidity regulator), food (among others as an ingredient of baking powder and sparkling drinks), pharmaceuticals, detergents and cosmetics, and for purifying exhaust fumes (mainly for desulphurisation). In the chemical industry it is used for production of pigments and explosives as well as a basic component of fire extinguishers. The baking soda market is divided into the segments of low, high and very high quality baking soda. The high quality segment covers food and pharmaceutical industries. Very high quality is required for medical purposes — e.g. in hemodialysis. 

In Europe, baking soda is used mostly in production of fodder and exhaust gas purification (respectively, 1/3 and 1/4). Other important segments are food production and hemodialysis. 

Global production capacities for baking soda are estimated at about 5.7 million tonnes per year. Asia is responsible for approx. 50% of these capacities. Europe share is nearly 25% and Northern America is 20%. 

The target market for the CIECH Group for baking soda is the local market and the foreign markets, especially Western Europe. The share in the baking soda market of the CIECH Group is about 13% in Europe and 3% globally. Baking soda is produced in two soda factories of the Group: in Inowrocław and in Stassfurt. CIECH Soda Polska S.A. is the only producer of baking soda in Poland with about 55% share in the market. The CIECH Group’s share in the German market is about 30%. 

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.

 

An increase in demand for baking soda is supported by global megatrends.

Do góry