Published September 2022
Hydrochloric acid is an integral part of the worldwide chlorine industry. Most of the HCl produced globally is generated as a by-product in the manufacture of a wide variety of organic chemicals via chlorination reactions. This supply depends largely on demand for the primary products. A significant amount of by-product HCl is generated when ethylene dichloride (EDC) is cracked to make vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). This HCl is usually recycled back to the EDC reactor for additional oxychlorination and for the most part does not enter the commercial market. Similarly, most of the HCl generated in the production of chlorinated C1s (primarily methylene chloride and chloroform) is recycled to produce additional methyl chloride.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of hydrochloric acid:
About 40 processes generate HCl as a coproduct and about 110 chemical manufacturing processes utilize hydrochloric acid as a raw material.
Globally, more than one-third of all HCl consumption is for the production of EDC, with total production of organic compounds consuming about 70% in 2022, most of which is captive consumption. The remaining consumption is in a number of inorganic or merchant applications, including the food, steel, and oil field industries.
Despite the recent slowdown of the economy, mainland China is expected to have the largest absolute volume growth in HCl production and consumption during 2022–27. Growth rates for the Middle East and North America will also be strong as a result of increases in chlorovinyls production, which have been stimulated by the competitive advantage of low feedstock prices and relatively low energy prices. Consumption of HCl in the oil field sector tends to track crude oil prices, which declined in the mid-2010s and again in the pandemicrelated downturn in 2020. It is expected that oil prices will increase again, and HCl consumption will increase in line. The main producer of unconventional oil is currently the United States.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Hydrochloric Acid is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including
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S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Hydrochloric Acid has been compiled using primary interviews with key suppliers and organizations, and leading representatives from the industry in combination with S&P Global’s unparalleled access to upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights into industry dynamics, trade, and economics.
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