2010 Minerals Yearbook

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

SODA ASH [ADVANCE RELEASE]

September 2011
SODA ASH—2010 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 70.1

SODA ASH

By Dennis S. Kostick

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Martha L. Jackson, statistical assistant, and the world production table 

was prepared by Lisa D. Miller, international data coordinator.

The U.S. soda ash industry began to rebound in 2010 after 

experiencing a decline in domestic and export sales caused 

by adverse global economic conditions in 2009 in the major 

soda ash-consuming sectors. Although the annual average unit 

value of soda ash fell in 2010, soda ash production and exports 

increased. The total value of U.S. soda ash production was $1.36 

billion (table 1). 

Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), is an 

alkali chemical refi ned from the mineral trona or naturally 

occurring sodium-carbonate-bearing brines (the soda ash from 

both is referred to as natural soda ash) or manufactured from 

one of several chemical processes (the soda ash from this 

process is referred to as synthetic soda ash).

Soda ash is an important industrial compound used to 

manufacture chemicals, glass, pulp and paper, soaps and 

detergents, and many other familiar consumer products. The 

United States has the world’s largest natural deposit of trona 

and is the world’s second ranked soda ash-producing nation. 

U.S. natural soda ash is extremely competitive in world markets 

because the majority of the world output of soda ash is made 

synthetically, which is usually a more expensive process.

Production

Soda ash production and inventory data were collected by the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from monthly, quarterly, and 

annual voluntary surveys of the U.S. soda ash industry. A survey 

request was sent to each of the fi ve soda ash companies, all of 

which responded, representing 100% of the total production data 

in this report (table 1). 

The United States remained the world’s second ranked soda 

ash-producing nation in 2010. After more than a century of 

the United States leading in the world’s production of soda 

ash, China overtook the United States in 2003, and it appeared 

that China would continue to be the world’s leader for the 

foreseeable future. U.S. production of natural soda ash from 

California and Wyoming was 10.6 million metric tons (Mt) in 

2010. Based on about 14.5 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) 

(16 million short tons per year) of total nameplate production 

capacity, the U.S. soda ash industry operated at 73% of total 

capacity. This capacity utilization rate appears to be low because 

it is calculated partially based on the full nameplate capacity 

of 900,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) (1 million short tons 

per year) for Solvay Chemicals, Inc.’s Parachute, CO, plant; 

816,000 t/yr (900,000 short tons per year) for OCI Chemical 

Corp.’s plant; and 726,000 t/yr (800,000 short tons per year) for 

FMC Corp.’s Granger plant, some of which included nameplate 

capacity idled since 2009.

Approximately 2.45 Mt/yr of nameplate capacity (2.70 million 

short tons per year), which represented about 17% of total 

industry nameplate capacity, was idled in 2010. This available 

capacity could be brought back online when market conditions 

improve. The U.S. soda ash industry used the term “effective 

capacity” to minimize the effect that “mothballed capacity” had 

on operating rates. This resulted in higher capacity utilization 

percentages. Individual effective capacity data are not publicly 

disclosed. Producers use nameplate capacities to determine 

export allocations set by a U.S. export association, the American 

Natural Soda Ash Corp. (ANSAC).

The U.S. soda ash industry consisted of fi ve companies 

in 2010—four companies operating fi ve plants in Wyoming 

that produced soda ash from underground trona ore and one 

in California that produced soda ash from sodium-carbonaterich brines. Solvay operated a plant in Wyoming and a plant 

in Colorado, which was mothballed in September 2004 but 

continued sodium bicarbonate production using soda ash 

feedstock from the company’s Wyoming soda ash facility. 

Each of the U.S. companies is either wholly owned or 

partially owned by foreign soda ash-producing companies or 

foreign soda ash consumers. The U.S. soda ash industry was 

62% foreign owned and 38% domestically owned. At yearend, 

the countries and percentage ownership were India, 34%; 

Belgium, 31%; Japan, 18%; and the Republic of Korea, 17% 

(table 2).

Consumption

The USGS collects soda ash consumption data by end use 

on a quarterly basis from the marketing and sales departments 

of each company. Every effort has been made to categorize 

company sales within the correct end-use sector. Quarterly 

reports are often revised in subsequent quarters because of 

customer reclassifi cations or other factors. All U.S. soda ash 

companies responded to the quarterly surveys; data represented 

100% of the total reported consumption data found in this 

report.

In 2010, U.S. apparent consumption and reported 

consumption were virtually identical. Apparent consumption 

of soda ash was 5.20 Mt; reported consumption was 5.27 Mt 

(table 1). Reported consumption and apparent consumption 

do not necessarily correspond because reported consumption 

is sales reported by producers, whereas apparent consumption 

is the calculated quantity available for domestic consumption 

based on balancing supply (production, imports, and inventory 

adjustments) with external demand (exports).

When the two types of consumption do not closely 

correspond, the difference is usually attributed to a discrepancy 

in the export data that were used to derive consumption 

statistics. The two sources for export data were the U.S. Census 

Bureau, which reports exports upon departure from U.S. ports, 

and the California and Wyoming soda ash producers, which 

consider shipments to be exported when their export association, 
70.2 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2010

ANSAC, takes consignment of the product at the Wyoming 

plant sites. Transit times between the plant and port, which can 

be about 2 to 3 weeks before the cargo is actually exported, 

and carryover export inventories contribute to the discrepancy 

between reported and apparent consumption as well.

In the domestic market, large-volume buyers of soda ash 

were primarily the major glass container manufacturers whose 

purchases were seasonal (more beverage containers are made 

in the second and third quarters for summertime beverage 

consumption). Soda ash sales to the fl at glass sector depended 

more on the state of the economy because the leading uses 

of fl at glass were in automobile manufacture and residential 

housing and commercial building construction. These two major 

industrial sectors are especially sensitive to changing economic 

conditions, and soda ash sales follow trends in the two sectors. 

The distribution of soda ash by end use in 2010 was glass, 48%; 

chemicals, 29%; soap and detergents, 10%; distributors, 5%; 

fl ue gas desulfurization, 4%; other uses and pulp and paper, 2% 

each; and water treatment, less than 1% (table 3).

Chemicals.—Soda ash is used to manufacture many 

sodium-base inorganic chemicals, including sodium bicarbonate, 

sodium chromates, sodium phosphates, and sodium silicates.

Glass.—Glass manufacture represented about 48% of 

domestic soda ash consumption as follows: container, 51%; 

fl at, 38%; fi ber, 6%, and other, 5%. Glass containers are made 

for beverages (beer, carbonated, and noncarbonated drinks), 

chemical and household products, food, liquor, medical 

products, and toiletries and cosmetics. 

Soaps and Detergents.—Detergents were the third ranked 

use of soda ash. Soda ash was used as a builder to emulsify 

oil stains, to reduce the redeposition of dirt during washing 

and rinsing, to provide alkalinity for cleaning, and to soften 

laundry water. In addition, soda ash was a component of sodium 

tripolyphosphate (STPP), another major builder in detergent 

formulations. Soda ash consumption has been decreasing 

because phosphatic detergents can contribute to eutrophication, 

which is an environmental concern. Many regions of the Nation 

have adopted phosphate limitations or bans, affecting about 40% 

of the U.S. population. 

In response to the environmental concern that cardboard 

detergent packaging contributes to the volume of landfi ll waste, 

detergent manufacturers changed formulations to make compact 

and superconcentrated products. These reformulations required 

sodium silicates and synthetic zeolites, which are made from 

soda ash. Liquid detergents, which do not contain any soda ash, 

competed with powdered detergents and commanded about 50% 

of the household laundry detergent market in 2010.

Stocks

Yearend 2010 stocks of dense soda ash in domestic plant 

silos, terminals, warehouses, and on teamtracks amounted to 

220,000 metric tons (t). Producers indicated that a potential 

supply problem could exist if inventories fell below 180,000 t. 

Most consumers of soda ash did not have the storage facilities 

to accommodate large quantities of soda ash and had to rely on 

suppliers to provide the material on a timely basis.

Prices

The annual average value in 2010 for bulk, dense natural 

soda ash, free on board (f.o.b.) Green River, WY, and Searles 

Valley, CA, was $128.39 per metric ton ($116.47 per short ton), 

which was a 10% decrease from the record high of $143.17 

per ton ($129.88 per short ton) set in 2009. Part of the price 

decrease was because export prices in 2010 declined. The value 

is not a “price,” but rather the value of the combined revenue 

of California and Wyoming bulk, dense soda ash sold on an 

f.o.b. plant basis at list, spot, or discount prices, on long-term 

contracts, and for export, divided by the quantity of soda ash 

sold. Only merchant soda ash is used to derive the annual 

value; therefore, no soda ash for value-added products or soda 

liquors is included. The list prices quoted in trade journals or by 

producers differed from the annual average values reported to 

and by the USGS.

In May, FMC announced a soda ash price increase of $10 

per short ton effective July 1, 2010, or as contracts allowed for 

all grades of soda ash. The company stated the increase was 

necessary to “recover cost increases and to support continued 

investment in the business.” The new list price for bulk, dense 

soda ash was $260 per short ton (FMC Corp., 2010a). 

In September, FMC again announced another $10 per short 

ton rise effective November 1, 2010, or as contracts permit, for 

all grades of soda ash (FMC Corp., 2010b).

 General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners raised its list price 

of soda ash on September 7, effective immediately or as 

contract terms permit, by $10 per short ton to $260 per short ton 

(General Chemical Industrial Products, 2010).

Foreign Trade

 The majority of U.S. soda ash exports were controlled by 

ANSAC, which is involved exclusively in the export trade 

of soda ash, defi ned as an alkali product designated by the 

chemical formula Na2

CO3, whether manufactured by brine 

evaporation and purifi cation, Solvay process, trona refi ning, or 

any other means. Under the Treaty of Rome agreement (1958), 

ANSAC is not permitted to ship soda ash to the European Union 

(EU); however, the members of the U.S. soda ash industry 

formed another organization for shipping to this region. It is 

the American-European Soda Ash Shipping Association, Inc. 

(AESSA) that is engaged solely in storage, transportation, 

and other related logistical and technical support activities 

to promote and further its members’ individual commerce in 

soda ash being shipped to the EU. Both ANSAC and AESSA 

were formed as Webb-Pomerene export associations under the 

authority of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

 In August, ANSAC announced it would raise prices of 

soda ash for export by $30 per metric ton on a worldwide basis 

effective October 1, 2010. The action was a result of strong 

demand for soda ash around the world (ANSAC, 2010).

 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. soda ash exports 

for 2010 were 5.39 Mt, which represented about 51% of U.S. 

soda ash production. For comparison, exports accounted for 

only 5% of U.S. production in 1970, 13% in 1980, 26% in 1990, 

and 38% in 2000. In 2010, the regional percentage distribution 

of U.S. exports to 56 countries, was South America, 28%; 
SODA ASH—2010 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 70.3

Asia, 27%; North America, 20%; Europe, 11%; Africa, 6%; 

the Middle East, 4%; Oceania, 2%; Central America, 1%; and 

the Caribbean, negligible (table 5). The average free alongside 

ship value was $164.38 per metric ton in 2010 compared with 

$190.02 per ton in 2009. Although the data in tables 1 and 6 

are rounded to three signifi cant digits, the unit values listed in 

table 6 are based on the unrounded statistics. The 10 leading 

countries, representing 67% of total U.S. soda ash exports, in 

decreasing order and percentage of total were Mexico, 17%; 

Brazil, 13%; Indonesia, 9%; Canada, 5%; Chile, 5%; Taiwan, 

5%; Venezuela, 5%; Japan, 4%; Republic of Korea, 4%; and 

Belgium, 3% (table 6). About 43% of all U.S. soda ash exports 

went through the Columbia-Snake River customs district in 

Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, the Port Arthur, TX, customs 

district was the second-ranked customs district with 31% of the 

total, and the Laredo, TX, customs district was third with 12% 

of the total (table 5).

Imports of soda ash increased to 19,700 t in 2010 and came 

from 13 countries according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In 

2010, 88% of soda ash imports were from: Turkey (51%); 

China (18%); the United Kingdom (10%); and Mexico (9%). 

The remaining 12% of imports was from Belgium, Canada, 

the Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, 

Japan, and Romania. The Dominican Republic and Hong Kong 

were listed as sources; however, both countries do not produce 

soda ash. It is possible that the entry was erroneous or that the 

product was transshipped from another location. The average 

cost, insurance, and freight value of imported soda ash was 

$292.53 per ton, and the customs value was $249.64 per ton.

World Review

Soda ash is a mature commodity in which consumption tends 

to increase in proportion to population and gross domestic 

product growth rates. For this reason, the leading consumers of 

soda ash were, for the most part, developed nations with lower 

growth rates compared with those of developing countries. The 

developing nations tend to use less soda ash than developed 

nations but have higher growth rates. Although the production 

and consumption quantities varied among the countries, the 

end-use patterns were basically the same: glass, chemicals, and 

detergents were the major sectors.

 In 2010, world soda ash production was estimated to be 

47.5 Mt, which was a 7% increase from that of 2009. Of the 29 

countries that produce natural and synthetic soda ash, the United 

States was the world’s second-ranked producer, accounting for 

22% of total world output. Only Botswana, China, Ethiopia, 

Kenya, Turkey, and the United States produce soda ash from 

natural sources; the remaining 23 nations manufacture soda 

ash through various chemical processes, primarily the Solvay 

process. Total world natural soda ash production represented 

about 26% of combined world soda ash production. 

Eight countries produced more than 1 Mt/yr of soda ash. 

They were, in descending order, China, the United States, 

Russia, India, Turkey, Germany, Poland, and France (table 7). 

Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine had production installations 

that were rated at about 1 Mt/yr; adverse economic conditions, 

however, caused these nations to produce below their facilities’ 

design capacities. The fi ve top total soda ash-producing nations 

accounted for 79% of world production in 2010.

India.—The Government decided to reimpose an import 

duty on soda ash imports from China to reduce imports of less 

expensive soda ash and to protect its domestic industry. India 

imposed a 20% duty on imports of soda ash in April 2009 as 

recommended by India’s Directorate General of Safeguards, 

which was part of the country’s fi nance ministry. The extension 

of the import duty was expected to be contested by India’s 

detergent and glass industries, which have higher raw material 

and production costs (Industrial Minerals, 2010).

Saudi Arabia.—Plans were announced in late December 

for the construction of the fi rst synthetic soda ash plant to be 

constructed in Jubail II Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. IDEA 

International Co. planned to build a plant that would produce 

500,000 t of soda ash and 575,000 t of calcium chloride 

annually. About 51 hectares of land had already been acquired 

for the facility (O’Driscoll, 2010).

Outlook

The country economies that began to turn down in 2008 

that affected soda ash-consuming industries throughout 

2009, began to slowly recover in 2010. This decrease in soda 

ash consumption had caused domestic and foreign soda ash 

producers to reduce soda ash production. However, glass 

container and fl at glass production began to increase, which 

stimulated world soda ash production and consumption. Three 

dominant groups have survived to become the world leaders 

in soda ash—Solvay S.A. of Belgium, ANSAC of the United 

States (which represented three of the fi ve domestic producers 

in 2010), and Chinese producers. India has emerged recently 

as a major leader in world soda ash production as well and will 

probably compete in the export markets with the other groups. 

The new natural soda ash facility in Turkey that came onstream 

in 2009 may double capacity by 2012 to serve markets in the 

Middle East and northern Africa. This could result in additional 

competition in that region for U.S. soda ash producers.

With the start of the recovery in the U.S. economy, U.S. soda 

ash production for 2012 through 2014 is expected to increase. 

Global economic problems are expected to ease slowly in the 

next 2 years to stimulate domestic soda ash production and 

export sales. The United States likely will continue to compete 

with Chinese soda ash producers in the Far Eastern markets. 

U.S. soda ash exports in 2011 may increase, causing domestic 

soda ash production to increase slightly. Increases in world 

consumption are forecast to range from 2.0% to 2.5% per year 

for 2012 through 2014. Asia and South America remain the 

likeliest areas for increased soda ash consumption in the near 

future. 

References Cited 

ANSAC, 2010, ANSAC prices on soda ash to increase $30.00/mt worldwide: 

ANSAC press release, August 20, 1 p. (Accessed Septembr 14, 2010, at 

http://www.ansac.com/news/price-increase-100820.)

FMC Corp., 2010a, FMC increases soda ash prices: Philadelphia, PA, FMC 

Corp. news release, May 24, 1 p. (Accessed September 14, 2010, 

 at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117919&p=irolnewsArticle&ID=1430557&highlight.)
70.4 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2010

FMC Corp., 2010b, FMC increases soda ash prices: Philadelphia, PA, FMC 

Corp. news release, September 20, 1 p. (Accessed 

 September 21, 2010, at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.

zhtml?c=117919&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1473116&highlight=.)

General Chemical Industrial Products, 2010, [untitled]: General Chemical 

Industrial Products, September 7, 1 p. (Accessed September 13, 2010, at 

http://www.genchem.com/news-and-company-info.asp.)

Industrial Minerals, 2010, India re-imposes soda ash duty: Industrial Minerals, 

July 2. (Accessed August 25, 2009, via http://www.indmin.com/.)

O’Driscoll, Michael, 2010, First Saudi Arabian soda ash plant planned for 

Jubail: Industrial Minerals, December 2. (Accessed December 2, 2010, at 

http://www.indmin.com/Article/2724564/fi rst-Saudi-Arabian-soda-ash-plantplanned-for Jubail.html.)

GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Evaporites and Brines. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources, 

Professional Paper 820, 1973.

Soda Ash. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.

Soda Ash. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly.

Other

Chemical and Engineering News.

Chemical Marketing Reporter.

Chemical Week.

Engineering and Mining Journal, commodities survey.

Industrial Minerals.

Manufacture of Soda. American Chemical Society Monograph 

Series, 1942.

Natural Soda Ash. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992.

Proceedings of the First International Soda Ash Conference. 

Wyoming State Geological Survey, 1998.

Soda Ash. Ch. in Industrial Minerals and Rocks, Society for 

Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 1994.

Soda Ash. Mining Engineering, annual review of industrial 

minerals (June issue).

Soda Ash and Sodium Sulfate. Ch. in Mineral Facts and 

Problems, U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 675, 1985.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

United States:

Production:

Soda ash:

Quantity 11,000 11,100 11,300 9,310 10,600

Value 1,170,000 1,260,000 1,520,000 1,330,000 1,360,000

Value, average annual:

Per short ton $96.64 $103.53 $122.11 $129.88 $116.47

Per metric ton $106.53 $114.12 $134.60 $143.17 $128.39

Wyoming trona 16,700 17,200 17,800 15,100 15,900

Exports:

Quantity 4,820 5,130 5,370 4,410 5,400

Value 736,000 734,000 939,000 838,000 886,000

Imports for consumption:

Quantity 7 9 13 6 20

Value 2,290 2,760 3,820 2,350 5,770

Stocks, December 31, producers 290 206 259 217 220

Consumption:

Apparent 6,100 6,030 5,860 4,950 5,200

Reported 6,110 5,940 5,700 5,020 5,270

World, productione 43,700 r 45,900 r 46,700 r 44,300 r 47,500

TABLE 1

SALIENT SODA ASH STATISTICS1

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars except average annual value)

e

Estimated. rRevised. 1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except average annual value.
SODA ASH—2010 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 70.5

Wyoming Wyoming

Soda ash trona2 Soda ash trona2

January 805 1,160 877 1,530

February 670 2,020 814 1,260

March 739 983 845 1,300

April 670 1,080 876 1,100

May 767 1,180 915 1,410

June 734 1,140 821 1,350

July 794 971 874 1,270

August 827 1,220 948 1,380

September 814 1,250 844 1,280

October 812 1,360 918 1,330

November 826 1,340 911 1,330

December 854 1,380 927 1,420

Total 9,310 15,100 10,600 15,900

not add to totals shown.

2

Includes solution-mined trona.

TABLE 2

U.S. PRODUCTION OF SODIUM COMPOUNDS, BY MONTH1

(Thousand metric tons)

2009 2010

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may

Plant

nameplate Source of

capacity Plant location sodium carbonate

FMC Wyoming Corp.:

Granger 1.30 Granger, WY Underground trona.

Green River1 3.55 Green River, WY Do.

General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners2 2.80 do. Do.

OCI Chemical Corp.3 3.10 do. Do.

Searles Valley Minerals, Inc.4 1.45 Trona, CA Dry lake brine.

Solvay Chemicals, Inc.:5

Green River 2.80 Green River, WY Underground trona.

Parachute6 1.00 Parachute, CO Underground nahcolite.

Total 16.00

Total million metric tons 14.50

per year out of service temporarily for equipment refurbishment. 

4

The operation was sold to Nirma Ltd. of India in November 2007.

5

Solvay Soda Ash Joint Venture is owned by Solvay S.A. of Belgium (80%) and Asahi Glass Co. of Japan (20%).

6

Operation purchased on September 10, 2003, from American Soda L.L.P. Soda ash plant idled indefinitely.

Do., do. Ditto.

1

Formed joint venture (20%) in February 1996 with Sumitomo Corp. and Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., both of Japan.

2

A joint venture between General Chemical Corp. (75%) and Owens-Illinois, Inc. (25%). Tata Chemicals Ltd. of India in January 2008 purchased the

75% share of General Chemical Industrial Products, Inc.

3

Owned by DC Chemical Co., Ltd. of the Republic of Korea (51%) and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (49%). An 800,000-short-ton expansion

brought onstream in November 1998 increased plant capacity to 3.1 million short tons per year; however, the company took 900,000 short tons 

TABLE 3

U.S. PRODUCERS OF SODA ASH IN 2010

(Million short tons unless otherwise noted)

Company
70.6 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2010

NAICS2 First Second Third Fourth

code End use 2009 quarter quarter quarter quarter Total

3272 Glass: 

327213 Container 1,320 323 323 325 312 1,280

327211 Flat 800 219 241 259 247 965

327993 Fiber 141 34 36 35 34 139

327212 Other 111 26 30 31 32 119

Total 2,370 602 629 650 625 2,510

32518 Chemicals 1,430 371 367 385 396 1,520

325611 Soaps and detergents 508 132 125 133 124 513

322 Pulp and paper 103 22 23 22 21 89

221310 Water treatment3 49 12 13 11 10 46

56221 Flue gas desulfurization 152 48 42 54 47 191

422 Distributors 249 67 68 67 70 271

Other 156 34 36 34 35 138

Total domestic consumption4 5,020 1,290 1,300 1,360 1,330 5,270

Exports5 4,520 1,310 1,350 1,310 1,400 5,360

Canada 252 63 54 51 64 231

Total industry sales6 9,540 2,590 2,650 2,670 2,730 10,600

Total sales from plants 9,450 2,610 2,690 2,720 2,770 10,800

Total production 9,310 2,540 2,610 2,670 2,760 10,600

coproducers and distributed by purchasers into appropriate end-use categories.

3

Includes soda ash equivalent from soda liquors and purge liquors sold to powerplant for water treatment. Sales of mine water are excluded. 4

Imports reported by the producer/importer have been distributed into appropriate end-use categories listed above.

5

As reported by producers; includes Canada. Data may not necessarily agree with those reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for the same

periods.

6

Represents soda ash from domestic origin (production and inventory changes) and imports and exports. Includes soda ash sold by

TABLE 4

REPORTED CONSUMPTION OF SODA ASH IN THE UNITED STATES, BY END USE, BY QUARTER1

(Thousand metric tons)

2010

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2

North American Industry Classification System.
SODA ASH—2010 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 70.7 North Central South Middle Percentage Customs districts America America America Caribbean Europe East Africa Asia Oceania Total of total Atlantic: Miami, FL -- 173 263 116 -- -- -- -- -- 552 (2) New York, NY -- -- -- -- 353 -- -- 7 -- 360 (2) Norfolk, VA -- -- -- -- 196 -- -- -- -- 196 (2) Philadelphia, PA -- -- -- -- 24 -- -- -- -- 24 (2) Savannah, GA -- -- 36 -- 176 -- -- -- -- 212 (2) Gulf: Houston-Galveston, TX -- 20 11,100 16 205 -- 253 -- -- 11,600 (2) Mobile, AL -- -- -- -- 28 -- -- -- -- 28 (2) New Orleans, LA -- -- 19 -- -- -- -- -- -- 19 (2) Port Arthur, TX -- 10,500 882,000 1,000 442,000 24,700 312,000 8,240 -- 1,680,000 31 North-central: Chicago, IL -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 46 -- 46 (2) Cleveland, OH 14 -- -- -- 32 -- -- -- -- 46 (2) Detroit, MI 185,000 -- -- -- 62 -- -- -- -- 185,000 3 Duluth, MN 3,360 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3,360 (2) Great Falls, MT 23,300 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 23,300 (2) Pembina, ND 2,960 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2,960 (2) Northeast: Buffalo, NY 11,800 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 11,800 (2) Ogdensburg, NY 1,330 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,330 (2) Portland, ME 89 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 89 (2) Pacific: Anchorage, AK 6,120 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 6,120 (2) Columbia-Snake River, ID-OR-WA -- 60,700 327,000 -- 166,000 188,000 -- 1,460,000 116,000 2,310,000 43 Los Angeles, CA -- 19 298,000 -- 5,450 1,350 20 2,240 80 307,000 6 San Diego, CA 58,900 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 58,900 1 Seattle, WA 18,000 -- -- -- -- -- -- 524 -- 18,500 (2) Southwest: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX -- -- -- -- -- -- 7 -- -- 7 (2) El Paso, TX 142,000 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 142,000 3 Laredo, TX 622,000 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 622,000 12 Unknown 444 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 444 (2) Total 1,080,000 71,400 1,520,000 1,130 615,000 214,000 312,000 1,470,000 116,000 5,400,000 100 Percentage of total 20 1 28 (2) 11 4 6 27 2 100 XX Source: U.S. Census Bureau, as adjusted by the U.S. Geological Survey using data and information from the Journal of Commerce PIERS trade service and industry sources. TABLE 5 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF U.S. SODA ASH EXPORTS, BY CUSTOMS DISTRICTS, IN 20101 (Metric tons) XX Not applicable. -- Zero. 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Less than 1⁄2 unit.
70.8 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2010

Quantity Quantity

(thousand Value2 Unit (thousand Value2 Unit

Country metric tons) (thousands) value metric tons) (thousands) value

Argentina 116 $24,500 $211 82 $13,100 $160

Australia 92 20,200 220 87 15,800 182

Bahrain -- -- -- 1 168 168

Belgium 234 36,500 156 175 22,300 128

Brazil 506 104,000 205 701 113,000 161

Canada 272 56,700 208 253 52,400 207

Chile 212 41,600 196 272 45,300 167

China 32 2,070 65 -- -- --

Colombia 68 13,800 203 128 19,100 150

Costa Rica 27 7,010 260 19 3,640 192

Dominican Republic 6 1,500 250 1 173 173

Ecuador 23 5,430 236 27 4,160 154

Egypt 6 605 101 25 2,690 107

El Salvador 6 1,320 220 10 1,670 167

France 56 7,920 141 42 6,080 145

Guatemala 19 4,150 218 35 6,080 174

India 3 660 220 8 1,730 216

Indonesia 282 41,800 148 457 64,100 140

Italy 10 1,730 173 -- -- --

Japan 213 41,200 193 229 33,200 145

Korea, Republic of 138 25,100 182 229 35,900 157

Lithuania 72 10,200 142 122 16,700 137

Malaysia 31 5,990 193 49 8,540 174

Mexico 758 171,000 225 823 175,000 212

Namibia -- -- -- 2 263 132

Netherlands 166 28,600 172 137 18,700 137

New Zealand 25 5,010 200 29 4,920 170

Panama 9 2,100 233 8 1,430 179

Peru 43 9,110 212 57 9,010 158

Philippines 43 6,250 145 62 9,070 146

Portugal 62 7,560 122 49 5,960 122

Saudi Arabia 117 20,300 173 116 15,200 131

South Africa 82 13,300 162 162 18,100 112

Spain 116 17,300 149 61 8,440 138

Taiwan 160 25,200 157 252 39,600 157

Thailand 148 24,200 163 142 18,800 133

Tunisia 33 3,760 114 149 17,900 120

United Arab Emirates 58 11,400 196 72 11,400 158

United Kingdom -- -- -- 29 5,350 185

Venezuela 158 38,900 246 252 55,500 220

Vietnam 6 823 137 38 5,370 141

Other 1 r 407 r 407 r 1 274 274

Total 4,410 838,000 190 5,400 886,000 164

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except unit value; may not add to totals shown.

2

Free alongside ship value.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, as adjusted by the U.S. Geological Survey using data and information from the

Journal of Commerce Port Import-Export Reporting Service and industry sources.

TABLE 6

U.S. EXPORTS OF SODA ASH, BY COUNTRY1

2009 2010

r

Revised. -- Zero.
SODA ASH—2010 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 70.9

Country3 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Argentina 161 4 -- -- -- --

Australia 310 310 310 310 310

Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 11 11 11 11

Botswana5 250 250 250 250 250

Brazil 200 200 200 200 200

Bulgaria 800 800 800 800 800

Chad6 12 12 12 12 12

China 15,600 4 17,720 4 18,540 r, 4 19,350 4 20,290 4

Egypt 50 50 50 50 50

Ethiopia7 4 (8) 4 4 r, 4 4 r, 4 5

France 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000

Germany 2,587 r, 4 2,595 r, 4 2,715 r, 4 2,291 r, 4 2,539 4

India 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500

Iran 130 140 140 140 140

Italy 500 500 500 500 500

Japan 400 400 400 400 400

Kenya5 374 r, 4 387 4 513 4 405 4 460 4

Korea, Republic of 310 310 310 310 310

Mexico 290 290 290 290 290

Netherlands 400 400 400 400 400

Pakistan 250 260 250 260 250

Poland 1,177 4 1,192 4 1,190 890 1,000

Portugal 150 150 150 150 150

Romania 453 453 450 400 450

Russia 2,800 2,900 2,800 2,300 2,400

Spain 500 500 500 500 500

Turkey9 891 4 947 4 949 r, 4 1,079 r, 4 1,500

Ukraine 700 700 700 700 700

United Kingdom 900 900 500 500 500

United States5 11,000 4 11,000 4 11,300 4 9,310 4 10,600 4

Total 43,700 r 45,900 r 46,700 r 44,300 r 47,500

8

Less than 1⁄2 unit.

9

Production of natural soda ash from Beypazari deposit began in early 2009.

3

In addition to the countries listed, Tanzania may produce soda ash for local consumption; available general information is inadequate

for the formulation of reliable estimates of output levels.

4

Reported figure.

5

Natural only.

6

Produced for local consumption only.

7

Data for the Ethiopian calendar year ending July 7 of the year listed.

TABLE 7

SODA ASH: ESTIMATED WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

r

Revised. -- Zero.

1

World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2

Table includes data available through April 20, 2011. Synthetic unless otherwise specified.