US chlor-alkali facilities operated at 85% of capacity in November, data from the Chlorine Institute showed Tuesday.
The operating rates were up six percentage points from October's 79%.
The trade association said US chlor-alkali producers made 744,722 st of liquid chlorine, 942,788 st of chlorine gas and 983,835 st of sodium hydroxide in November. The monthly production corresponds to daily rates of 24,824 st/d of liquid chlorine, 31,426 st/d of chlorine gas and 32,795 st/d of sodium hydroxide, it said.
Companies reporting monthly data to the Chlorine Institute account for 93% of US capacity.
In the spot market, January export offers were last heard at $330/mt FOB USG Monday, and deals were heard in the range of $290-320/mt. Platts last assessed US spot export caustic soda prices on December 10 at $290-300/mt FOB USG. Domestic caustic soda prices were assessed $350-360/st FOB plant -- a decline of $15/st as December spot deals were heard concluded near the $350/dst level.
In contracts, major domestic producers including Axiall, Olin, Formosa and Dow Chemical announced in late November $40/dst increases in their pricing, while OxyChem announced a $50/dst hike.
