Profit margins among European producers of synthetic soda ash are coming under increasing pressure from higher costs for key inputs such as energy and coke.
“We are facing higher costs for energy and coke. It is likely that prices will increase in the second half although there is no consensus among producers that prices will increase”, a market source said.
Prices for European synthetic soda ash (dense and light, large contracts, ex-works Europe) remain stable within published ranges of €150-170/tonne, unchanged from levels seen at the same time last year.
The increasing price of coke is cited as a major factor behind the profit erosion. The cost of Chinese coking coal,...