Outlook SODA ASH Despite healthy demand in the U.S. and Europe, the Asian financial crisis has hindered strong growth of soda ash markets. The root causes of the decline are increasing capacity and slack demand outside North America. However, OCI plans to close older facilities as the new plants come onstream.
Producers expect growth to resume when Asian economies recover.
Recycled glass can be used instead of soda ash. Rising caustic soda prices may lead to soda ash conversion to chemical caustic. Technology Soda ash is produced naturally from trona in the U.S. and China. The largest trona mines are in Wyoming and are the source of the cheapest and highest quality soda ash. Soda ash is also produced synthetically, using the Solvay process.