Caustic soda manufacturers scale back price increases

The upward spiral in caustic soda (NaOH) prices seems to be flattening out. After raising prices by up to €30/t in December, as announced, manufacturers have scaled back their demands in the latest talks about delivery conditions for the first quarter of 2012. Many NaOH producers are still insisting on higher prices depending on the previous level. However, EUWID sources noted that just a fraction of the original price increase was now under discussion. Customers already paying higher prices might possibly face unchanged prices, too.