While talks of China being the new force in soda ash dominated the beginning of the decade, it now seems that India has stepped into the limelight with ambitious plans to become a stronger force in the export market, gaining footholds in Europe & Kenya. Recently announced impressive production capacity increases by leading India soda ash producers Tata Chemicals (TCL) & Gujarat Heavy Chemicals (GHCL) have been combined with bold moves to acquire major shareholdings in some of Europe's main soda ash producers. TCL's bid for majority ownership of European no 2 producer Brunner Mond is currently awaiting authorities' approval, while GHCL has targeted Romania's two soda ash producers: Bega Upsom AS & Uzinele Sodice Govara SA.TCL's Brunner Mond play would net 1.6m/tpa total capacity supply sources for the Indian soda ash leader in the UK, Netherlands & Kenya, & most importantly, access to new export markets in Europe.
