PPG declares force majeure on caustic soda in North America due to plant problems

By James McLaren, Senior Editor, PPI Pulp & Paper Week, RISI

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2011 (RISI) - PPG Industries has informed customers it has declared force majeure on North American caustic soda deliveries due to a problem at a US plant, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The company is the fourth largest caustic soda producer, used in the pulping process and other industries.

A PPG chlor-alkali plant in West Virginia has had a mechanical problem, a company spokesman told Bloomberg, and will be down for a short period.

Georgia Gulf declared force majeure last week on shipments of polyvinyl chloride due to operating problems at a chlor-alkali plant in Louisiana, Bloomberg added.