US soda ash contract prices have settled for 2016, with average price increases ranging from US$ 3-12/ton, depending mostly on the volume that the buyer purchases, according to industry observers. ICIS has adjusted its assessments above to reflect the average price increase that was included in the 2016 supply contracts. ICIS prices firmed by US$ 6/ton, to US$ 205-225/ton. The new contract settlement is the result of a process that took over six months to complete. July 2015, at least four suppliers announced price increases. Most negotiations for the 2016 contracts began October 2015, with the majority of those settling soon after. Other factors that played into how much customers paid for soda ash in 2016 include the market segment represented by the buyer, and the geographical location of the buyer. One market participate said demand in the soda ash market is flat at the moment,, which is typical for this time of year. US soda ash production was down by 6% October 2015, compared to the previous year, while consumption was virtually flat on the year. US soda ash producers include: Tronox; Searles Valley Minerals; Ciner Resources; Solvay Chemicals and Tata Chemicals. Meanwhile, US soda ash exports for October 2015 were down 18% from the same month in the previous year, according to data made available recently by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The decline was the result of fewer volumes shipped to Indonesia and Mexico, according to the data.
