FMC Corporation expects mixed demand trends for its Soda ash in North America according to a supplemental commentary (Q&A) released by the company on 31st October, 2012.
On the positive side, FMC witnessed the startup of a new container glass plant at Washington. The Company witnessed an increase in housing, auto production, architectural billings index and Chemical rail loadings as compared to last year. On the negative side, two glass plants were idled this year.
The company further hopes to operate at full capacity rates in the fourth quarter of the year and anticipated that prices would improve in Asia in the next one or two quarters due to a combination of demand recovery and continued pressures on cost related to energy, raw materials, labor and currency appreciation.
Export demand continued to be strong for the company. The company expects their global average selling prices of Soda ash for the full year to be up in the mid-to-high single digits on a dollars per ton basis as compared to 2011 and domestic prices to be up in the high-single digits and export prices to be up in mid–single digits due to lower pricing in Asia.
