European chlorine manufacturing fell in June, reversing the sharp rise recorded a month in advance, while caustic soda stocks stayed considerably above year-ago levels, as per the latest figures from Euro Chlor.
Chlorine manufacturing across the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom reached 625,552 tons in June 2026, down 3.9% from 651,120 tons in June 2025.
The decline was steeper on a daily basis. Average daily manufacturing fell to 20,852 tons, an 8.9% drop from May, when daily output averaged 22,897 tons.
The June figures mark a sharp reversal from May, when manufacturing increased 18.3% year on year to 709,821 tons. Capacity utilization also weakened, falling to 65.3% in June from 71.7% in May, and down from 68.8% a year earlier.
The latest monthly figures display a volatile manufacturing trend in 2026. Output was down year in January, February and March earlier than growing 3.8% in April and surging 18.3% in May. June then brought a return to year-on-year decline.
Caustic soda inventories also fell in June, but stayed well above their level a year in advance.
Stocks stood at 222,159 tons, down 5.5% from May’s 235,086 tons. Moreover, inventories were still 42,111 tons higher than in June 2025, when stocks stood at 180,048 tons.
The June stockpile was the second-highest monthly level recorded so far in 2026, behind May.
Euro Chlor stated that its latest tables cover chlorine manufacturing and caustic soda stocks across the EU-27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
The figures are subject to subsequent revisions, with Euro Chlor noting that monthly totals can change when manufacturers submit late data.
