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Sodium bicarbonate is a member of the chlor-alkali family, although less important
than chlorine, caustic soda and soda ash. Most of its global production is
derived from natural and synthetic soda ash; the United States is the only
country that utilizes both nahcolite and soda ash (trona) as raw materials.
Sodium bicarbonate is a globally driven product, but applications, production
technologies and prices vary substantially by region.
The global market (production) for sodium bicarbonate in 2005 is estimated
at just over 2 million metric tons, with a value of about $900 million. The
United States, Europe and Japan combined have almost 60% of this market. With
an estimated annual production of 550–600 thousand metric tons, China
was the world’s second-largest producer in 2005.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of sodium bicarbonate by end
use:
The end-use consumption pattern is significantly different among the different
world regions. The major use of sodium bicarbonate in the United States is
in food; in Europe, the principal use is in animal feed; and in Japan, its
main use is as a bath additive. Chinese sodium bicarbonate consumption for
animal feed has increased significantly, responding to the rapid growth of
the feed industry because of the rapid development of the livestock sector
in China. China is currently the second-largest feed producer in the world.
Demand for specific grades of sodium bicarbonate differs among the United States,
Europe and Japan. In the United States, two-thirds of domestic sodium bicarbonate
use is for differentiated (higher-value) grades; in Europe, less than half
of total domestic use is for differentiated grades; and in Japan, the corresponding
figure is just over one-third.
The outlook for growth in sodium bicarbonate consumption also varies by region.
Average growth during 2005–2010 is expected to be 1.7% per year in the
United States, 1.4% in Western Europe and 2.2% in Japan.
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