Soda Ash Plants to Run at an Appreciable Efficiency as Production Resumes after Temporary Turnaround

Chemical industry has witnessed a devastating downturn after the outbreak of global pandemic, having origins from China. The penetration of this contagion in India has compelled the government to impose lockdown as a preventive measure to contain the spread of virus across the nation. With stringent measures, majority of the chemical manufacturing industries underwent a temporary turnaround to safeguard the revenues on being negatively affected by high inventories as an outcome of halt in activities of end user industries. With this, Soda Ash, an essential commodity of bulk chemical and fertilizer segment witnessed an unusual slump in demand resulting from downturn in activities of its major consuming detergent and glass industries. However, with resumption in industrial activities from 20 April, as government eased stringent measures to consolidate revenues, Soda Ash demand has certainly recovered. Nirma industries, one of the leading producers of Soda Ash in India, has informed that majority of Soda Ash plants have been running on more than 70 per cent capacity on its resumed demand from detergent and several glass companies. However, complete utilization of efficiency could not be achieved as several industries like textile and pulp and paper are still on a halt or have resumed less than 20 per cent production due to plummeting demand.