With 26,394 tonnes, the December average daily production was 4.4% lower than in the previous month (November 2017: 27,615 tonnes), but 0.3% higher than in December 2016 (26,317 tonnes). With 249,163 tonnes, the December 2017 caustic soda stocks were 7.6% higher than in the previous month (November 2017: 231,533 tonnes), and 53,937 tonnes above the level of December 2016 (195,226 tonnes). The details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the EU-28 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in December 2017 are provided in the following tables. Chlorine production & capacity utilisation - EU 28 + Norway/Switzerland 

Month	Production (tonnes)			Capacity Utilisation (%)
	2016	2017	% change	2016	2017
January	821,341	841,842	+2.5	81.9	82.9
February	805,394	775,425	-3.7	85.9	84.5
March	802,803	791,946	-1.4	80.1	78.0
April	670,713	780,906	+16.4	69.1	79.4
May	748,409	835,190	+11.6	74.7	82.2
June	751,434	828,540	+10.3	77.5	84.3
July	828,652	865,803	+4.5	82.7	85.2
August	828,695	849,161	+2.5	82.7	83.6
September	748,760	778,222	+3.9	77.2	79.2
October	766,226	807,254	+5.4	76.4	79.5
November	779,974	828,455	+6.2	80.4	84.3
December	815,827	818,223	+0.3%	81.4	80.5

Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)

	2016	2017
January	243,389	202,439
February	252,472	226,314
March	231,506	200,896
April	226,702	195,889
May	221,326	189,783
June	200,718	179,166
July	204,338	193,778
August	225,564	208,486
September	222,121	197,706
October	214,574	206,260
November	196,237	231,533
December	195,226	249,163

Further information: Dolf van Wijk, Executive Director,  tel: +32 2 676 73 70 Footnote to Editors Some of the totals for each month may vary slightly compared with figures used earlier. Please rely on the most recent information since it sometimes happens that estimates have to be made when data is supplied late by a producer. This is subsequently adjusted when the actual figure becomes available.