Which Processes Can We Find Caustic Soda in?
Caustic soda is primarily consumed by fiber lines and paper machines during pulp production. Caustic soda is first consumed in the fiber line, then feeds the paper machine.
The three major pulp grades that feed the paper machine are chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled pulp. Among these grades, caustic soda is predominantly used in chemical pulp, accounting for 80% of the total consumption.
Figure 2: Caustic Soda Consumption by Major Pulp Grade
Within chemical pulp, kraft pulp is the primary consumer grade, using over 90% of the caustic soda consumed by chemical pulps.
In mechanical pulps, the primary user of caustic soda is bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP), while recycled fiber consumes limited amounts of caustic soda.
How Caustic Soda Makes up the Industry
When examining paper production, the unit consumption of caustic soda has remained relatively stable in recent years. Figure 3 illustrates the industry’s consumption since 2018, with market pulp being the largest consumer of caustic soda, as mentioned earlier. Approximately 35kg of caustic soda is required to produce one ton of market pulp.
Figure 3: Caustic Soda Consumption by Major Paper Grade
Packaging paper and printing and writing paper, the second and third largest consumers, require significantly less caustic soda compared to market pulp. Caustic soda consumption in paper grades is driven by the type of pulp grade used and whether the mill is integrated.
For example, most pulp consumed in the tissue sector is market pulp, which means most tissue mills do not have a fiber line, resulting in limited caustic soda requirements.
Conversely, containerboard consumes minimal caustic soda due to the majority of the fiber used being recycled pulp, which, as shown in previous figures, consumes less caustic soda during the pulping process.
Regional Variations in Caustic Soda Consumption
Similar to other commodities, caustic soda consumption varies across different regions. As expected, countries with higher paper production rates also have higher caustic soda consumption rates. China and the US are the two largest consumers of caustic soda in the pulp and paper industry. However, Brazil, Canada, and Indonesia also have significant consumption due to their substantial production of market pulp and integrated pulp. These top five countries account for 65% of the caustic soda consumed in the industry.
When reviewing consumption history in different regions, we observe a significant increase in APAC (Asia-Pacific) and Latin America in recent years. In APAC, most of the growth is attributed to integrated pulp, while in Latin America, it is driven by market pulp. Looking ahead, we anticipate a continuous increase in consumption in these regions.
Figure 4:
Valuable Resources for Understanding Caustic Soda
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Source: Fisher International
