In the first quarter, the economic operation of the chlor-alkali industry is stable and improving

On April 27, the economic operation analysis meeting of China's chlor-alkali industry in the first quarter of 2022 was held through an online live broadcast
.
In the first quarter, the economic operation of China's chlor-alkali industry showed a growth trend
.
Driven by rising raw material prices and increased downstream demand, the prices of caustic soda and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have all risen
.
Based on factors such as production costs and the expected increase in downstream demand, it is expected that the chlor-alkali industry will continue to maintain a stable and positive trend in the second quarter
.

Specifically, in the first quarter, there was no new production capacity of caustic soda and PVC in China, and the production capacity of caustic soda and PVC was 45.
08 million tons and 27.
13 million tons respectively
.
In the first quarter, China's export volume of caustic soda was 689,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 176%; the import volume was 3,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 56%
.
The export volume of PVC was 474,400 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 6.
87%; the import volume was 70,700 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 31.
4%
.

In terms of the market, in the first quarter, the caustic soda market continued to fluctuate and rise.
At the end of March, the average price of domestic 32% liquid caustic soda rose by 25% compared with the beginning of the year
.
The PVC market fluctuates frequently, and the overall price focus remains high.
At the end of March, the average price of the domestic PVC market increased by 8.
1% compared with the beginning of January
.

In terms of cost, in the first quarter, electricity prices generally rose, and the prices of raw materials calcium carbide, liquid chlorine, and raw salt were all at high levels
.
Among them, the domestic calcium carbide market first fell and then rose, and the transaction range remained at a high level
.
The implementation of the policy of raising electricity prices in various places has made the production cost of calcium carbide rise to a certain extent
.
The price of raw salt, another raw material, has been steadily increasing since last year
.
Therefore, the cost pressure of chlor-alkali enterprises is difficult to eliminate
.

In terms of demand, the output of some downstream industries of chlor-alkali showed a growth trend
.
In the first quarter, the output of plastic products in China was 19.
263 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 5%; the output of machine-made paper and cardboard was 33.
4 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.
4%; PVC flooring has become a rapid growth point in the downstream consumption field, and the export market of PVC flooring is expected to remain in the later period.
Good
.

Regarding the situation of the chlor-alkali industry in the second quarter of this year, Zheng Jiebin, deputy secretary-general of the China Chlor-Alkali Industry Association, believes that the chlor-alkali industry may face many uncertain factors, but on the whole it is optimistic and will show a stable and positive trend
.
On the one hand, the policy system may be gradually improved this year, and subsequent industry segmentation policies may be introduced one after another
.
At the same time, caustic soda and PVC enterprises have new production and equipment maintenance plans in the second quarter, which will affect the supply and price of the chlor-alkali market, thereby affecting the stability of the industry and the relationship between market supply and demand
.
On the other hand, the higher electricity price of chlor-alkali enterprises and the increase in production cost will form a certain support for the market
.