Potassium hydroxide (molecular formula: KOH), commonly known as caustic potash, is used in a wide variety of industrial applications. The major potassium hydroxide uses are in the production of potassium carbonate, potassium phosphates, liquid fertilizers, soaps and detergents.
Main potassium hydroxide producing facilities are located in three regions: Asia-Pacific, Americas (mostly North America) and Europe. It also confirms that, in total, companies from the Asia Pacific region have the largest combined corporate share of the global potassium hydroxide production capacity, though the US and European companies can also boast significant shares. The global and regional potassium hydroxide markets could hardly be considered heavily oligopolistic.
Major potassium hydroxide manufacturers and their production capacity shares
Large potassium hydroxide production capacities in Asia Pacific are owned by and located in the following places (by company): a) Unid Co Ltd. with production sites in Zhenjiang and Taixing (China), and Inchon (South Korea); b) Taurus Potash Company (associated with JZEG Xingtai Mining Group Co., Ltd.) with a production site in Xingtai (China); c) Chengdu Huarong Chemical Co Ltd. (CHCCL) with a production site in Chengdu (China); d) other companies with production facilities in Taixing, Zhuozhou, Shaoyang, and Changshu (China).
Main potassium hydroxide production capacities in Americas are operated by and located in the following places (by company): a) Occidental Chemical Corp. with production site in Taft, LA (the U.S.); b) Olin Chlor Alkali Products (the second-largest potassium hydroxide supplier in the Western Hemisphere) with a production site in Charleston, TN (the U.S.); c) Erco Worldwide Inc. (the third largest producer of potassium products in North America) with a production site in Port Edwards, WI (the U.S.); d) Ashta Chemicals Inc. with a production site in Ashtabula, OH (the U.S.); e) Pan-Americana SA Industrias Quimicas with production in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
Key potassium hydroxide production capacities in Europe are operated by and located in the following places (by company): a) INEOS ChlorVinyls (part of the Switzerland-headquartered INEOS group of companies) with a production site in Tessenderlo (Belgium); b) Potasse and Produits Chimiques SAS (PPC) (associated with WeylChem Group and International Chemical Investors Group, ICIG) with a production site in Thann (France); c) Altair Chimica SpA with a production site in Saline di Volterra (Italy); d) Ercros SA with a production site in Sabiñánigo (Spain).
More information on the potassium hydroxide market and the key market players can be found in the in-demand research study “Potassium Hydroxide: 2015 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2019”.