Soda ash: properties and applications
Soda ash (sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃) is a white powder or granules and one of the most important products of the basic chemical industry. Its molecular mass is 105.99. It is a hygroscopic product that absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air to form the acid salt NaHCO₃ and cakes during storage in open air. Aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate have a strongly alkaline reaction. Soda ash is produced in grade A (granular) and grade B (powdered).
Production Technologies
Four main methods for producing soda ash are known in world practice: the ammonia process, from natural soda, from nepheline raw materials, and by carbonation of sodium hydroxide. The ammonia process (Solvay process) is the leading method in world practice. Production by the ammonia method includes several stages: obtaining ammoniated brine by saturating purified brine with ammonia and partially with carbon dioxide; carbonation of the ammoniated brine to form sodium bicarbonate; filtration to separate sodium bicarbonate; and calcination of the precipitate to obtain soda ash. Natural soda accounts for a small percentage of total production: soda lakes are known in Transbaikalia and Western Siberia. Soda can also be obtained from the complex processing of nepheline raw materials, which is used at Russian enterprises.
Regulatory Framework
Requirements for technical soda ash in Russia and CIS countries are regulated by GOST 5100-85 "Technical soda ash. Specifications". The standard applies to technical soda ash intended for the chemical, glass, electronic, pulp and paper and other industries, as well as for export. For soda from nepheline raw materials, GOST 10689-75 applies. Technical soda ash must be manufactured in grades A and B: grade A product is used for the production of electrovacuum glass and other purposes; grade B product is used in the chemical, glass and other industries.
Applications
Soda ash is widely used in various industries. The main consumer is the glass industry: the production of all types of glass, including crystal, optical and medical glass, glass blocks, foam glass, accounts for about half of global consumption. In China, the glass industry accounts for over 60% of soda consumption, including the production of flat glass, photovoltaic glass and glass containers. In the chemical industry, soda is used for the production of synthetic detergents and fatty acids, for brine purification, in the production of phosphorus, chromium, barium and sodium salts, in the production of glycerols and allyl alcohol. In metallurgy, soda is used for the production of lead, zinc, tungsten, strontium, chromium, for desulfurisation and dephosphorisation of cast iron, in flue gas cleaning and for neutralising media. Soda is also used in the pulp and paper, aniline dye, paint and varnish, petroleum and textile industries.
Global Market
The global soda ash market demonstrates steady growth. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market was valued at USD 15.02 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 15.81 billion in 2026 and USD 26.54 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 6.5%. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the global soda ash market was valued at USD 23.89 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 35.56 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.10%. In physical terms, according to Mordor Intelligence, the market volume is estimated at 71.31 million tonnes in 2025, 73.09 million tonnes in 2026, and is projected to reach 83.14 million tonnes by 2031 at a CAGR of 2.61%.
The Asia-Pacific region dominates the global market with a 62.05% share in 2025. China is the world's largest producer and supplier of soda ash, followed by the USA and Russia. About half of the soda ash produced globally is consumed in the glass industry. Only a few countries extract soda ash from natural sources (USA, China, Turkey); in most countries, sodium carbonate production is carried out by the synthetic Solvay method. Key market players include Solvay, Tata Chemicals, Şişecam, Ciner Group, DCW Ltd. and others.
Soda Ash Market in Russia and China
The Chinese soda ash industry is the largest in the world. In 2025, new capacities were commissioned in China, and total soda ash production reached about 37.97 million tonnes, providing ample market supply. Soda consumption in China in 2025 amounted to 35.81 million tonnes, down 3.5% from the previous year. The main consumers are the glass industry (over 60%), including flat glass, photovoltaic glass and glass containers, as well as the chemical industry. The largest producers in China are Henan Jinshan Chemical, Shandong Haihua, Inner Mongolia Boyuan Chemical, CNSG Inner Mongolia Chemical, Tangshan Sanyou Chemical. China's soda ash exports in 2025 reached 2.19 million tonnes, up 79.7% year-on-year, with the main export destinations being Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Korea, Malaysia and Nigeria.
Conclusion
Soda ash remains one of the key products of the global chemical industry, providing for the production of glass, detergents, chemical reagents and many other products. Growing demand for glass, especially in the segments of energy-efficient windows, solar panels and packaging, creates sustained demand for this essential chemical. China, the USA and Russia remain the leading players in the global soda ash market, and the development of production technologies and capacity expansion determine the industry's further prospects.