Profile excludes spent causticwash and low-grade recovered blends. The worldwide sodium sulfate market is being driven primarily by the powder detergents sector, particularly in Latin American countries and the Middle and Far East. Japan's consumption is also increasing. US detergent producers are purchasing more sulfate than in the late 1980s and early 1990s, possibly to satisfy higher export demand or as a replacement for higher-priced ingredients, such as surfactants and zeolites. While use in Kraft pulping has declined, it is still a factor in Mexico.
Demand is up for textiles.
Sulfate producers have been able to increase price levels throughout 1995 with little resistance. US consumption may drop in 1996 due to a fall in powder detergent production for domestic use. Imports into the US, much from Canada, are elevated. Penoles, the largest producer in the world, is keeping its material closer to home due to rising demand. The worldwide market is expected to expand dramatically.