FMC Corporation expects mixed demand trends for its Soda ash in N America according to a supplemental commentary (Q&Q) released by the company 31 October 2012. On the positive side, FMC witnessed the startup of a new container glass plant at Washington (Bennu). The company also witnessed an increase in housing, auto production, architectural billings index and Chemical rail loadings as compared to the previous year. On the negative side, two glass plants were idled in 2012. The company further hopes to operate at full capacity in Q4 and anticipated that prices would improve in Asia in the next 1-2 quarters due to a combination of demand recovery and continued pressures on cost relating to energy, raw materials, labour and currency appreciation. Export demand continued to be strong. The company expects their global average selling prices of Soda ash for the full year to be up in the mid-to-high single digits on a dollars per ton basis, as compared to 2011 and domestic prices are expected to be up in the high-single digits and export prices to be up in mid-single digits due to lower pricing in Asia.
