With 26,040 tonnes, the October average daily production was 0.4% higher than in the previous month (September 2017: 25,940 tonnes), and 5.4% higher than in October 2016 (24,717 tonnes). With 206,260 tonnes, the October caustic soda stocks were 4.2% higher than in the previous month (September 2017: 197,935 tonnes), and 8,314 tonnes below the level of October 2016 (214,574 tonnes). Details of chlorine production and caustic soda stocks in the EU-28 countries plus Norway and Switzerland in October 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	774,784	-3.8	85.9	84.4
March	802,803	791,926	-1.4	80.1	77.9
April	670,713	780,906	+16.4	69.1	79.4
May	748,409	832,492	+11.2	74.7	81.9
June	751,434	828,842	+10.3	77.5	84.3
July	828,652	865,803	+4.5	82.7	85.2
August	828,695	848,858	+2.4	82.7	83.6
September	748,760	778,210	+4.0	77.2	79.2
October	766,226	807,254	+5.4	76.4	79.5

Caustic soda stocks (tonnes)

	2016	2017
January	243,389	202,439
February	252,472	226,314
March	231,506	200,895
April	226,702	195,889
May	221,326	189,783
June	200,718	179,166
July	204,338	193,779
August	225,564	208,486
September	222,121	197,935
October	214,574	206,260

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.