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Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate is used mainly in production of animal feed (as an acidity regulator), food (among others as an ingre-dient 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, among others, production of pigments and plastics as well as a basic component of fire extinguishers. The sodium bicarbonate market is divided into the segments of low, high and very high quality sodium bicarbonate. The high quality segment covers food and pharmaceutical industries. Very high quality is required for medical purposes — e.g. in haemodialysis.

In Europe, sodium bicarbonate is used mostly in production of feed and exhaust gas purification (respectively, approx. 1/3 and 1/4). Other important segments are food production and hemodialysis.

SODIUM BICARBONATE CONSUMPTION STRUCTURE

Global production capacities for sodium bicarbonate are estimated at about 7.2 million tonnes per year. Asia accounts for nearly 55% of these capacities. The share of Europe together with Russia and Turkey reaches 27% and North America – 16%. In 2019, the largest capacity increases were recorded in China.

PRODUCTION CAPACITIES OF SODIUM BICARBONATE BY REGION
LARGEST PRODUCERS OF SODIUM BICARBONATE IN THE REGION COMPRISING EUROPE AND TURKEY BY PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN 2019

In the European region (including Turkey) sodium bicarbonate production capacity is estimated at around 2 million tonnes per year; including the CIECH Group's new plant in Germany with a capacity of 50 thousand tonnes/year, launched in 2019. The biggest producer both in Europe and globally is Solvay, owning factories in seven countries. Currently, the CIECH Group with production capacity at 200 thousand tonnes per year is the second largest producer in Europe (and fourth after Solvay, Ciner Group and Sisecam Group in the region, including Turkey). Much like the soda ash markets.

The target market for the CIECH Group for sodium bicarbonate is Poland and the foreign markets, especially Western Eu-rope. The share in the sodium bicarbonate market of the CIECH Group is about 11% in Europe (with Russia but without Turkey) and 3% globally. Sodium bicarbonate is produced in two soda factories of the Group: in Inowrocław and in Stassfurt. CIECH Soda Polska S.A. is the only producer of sodium bicarbonate in Poland with about 2/3 of the market. The CIECH Group’s share in the German market is about 25%.

Polish and European markets for sodium bicarbonate are mature markets, not volatile to rapid changes, with yearly growth of 4%–5%.

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 sodium bicarbonate for fumes desulphurisation is expected.

The animal feed industry is usually the most vulnerable to economic shifts among the target sectors for sodium bicarbonate. However, the EU forecasts for the fol-lowing year show small – marginal or by a few percentages – changes for the different types of feed for which sodium bicarbonate is used.

An increase in sodium bicarbonate production capacity is planned for 2020, which may have a significant impact on the European market. Solvay has announced an expansion of its production capacity in Bulgaria by 200 tt/year on the basis of sodium carbonate produced there already in 2020. This project may contribute to the periodical oversupply of the product in Europe and neighbouring regions. However, the actual significance of this project will depend on the segments to which new supplies will be directed. The activities of Solvay so far show that the new capacity can be allocated largely to flue gas cleaning (a segment with great growth prospects), e.g. in the light of increasing requirements for emissions in maritime transport – new International Maritime Organisation 2020 standards).

An increase in demand for sodium bicarbonate is sup-ported by global megatrends,

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