Belgian-based global chemicals group Solvay has stopped soda ash production at its Ebensee plant in Austria but will continue production of precipitated calcium carbonate there. The firm stopped soda ash production at its US operation in Colorado last year, but continues to produce sodium bicarbonate there. All the firm's soda ash plants were running at full capacity by the end of last year, mainly due to booming demand from China. Production costs have risen sharply for the product all over the world for various reasons. In China, costs have risen due to a shortage of salt & the need to import from Australia. Rising energy & fuel prices, particularly coke, have pushed up costs in Europe, while in the US costs have been hit by higher gas prices. Solvay is continuing to negotiate a joint venture soda ash production company in China with Nanjing Chemical Industries.
