Episode 981: Soda ash market approaches another potential tipping point

The soda ash market is potentially at another tipping point as supply is headed for dramatic changes this year, with sizable production coming back to the market and new capacity about to deploy in Q2  after a near two-year spell of shortages.Demand remains an unknown, however, with potential for stronger consumption from container glass, solar photovoltaic, electric vehicles and bicarbonate sectors, but with weaker take-up expected from the all-important flat glass applications servicing the construction and auto industries  ICIS editors Helen Lee for Asia, Bill Bowen for the US and Anne-Sophie Briant-Vaghela for Europe have plenty to discuss in their first global soda ash podcast, as they give a brief overview of the elements which have shaped today's market as well as presenting what factors will weigh on fundamentals and pricing in the coming months.