chemical · input
>90% of global sodium chlorate is consumed to generate ClO2 for ECF pulp bleaching. On-site generation means mills carry only 2–5 days of NaClO3 inventory. Nouryon (largest, 13 sites) and ERCO Worldwide (second-largest, 5 sites) supply the majority in North America and Scandinavia. A sustained NaClO3 shortage forces mills to produce unbleached pulp (unsaleable for tissue) or shut down.
4
Source countries
2
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on sodium chlorate (naclo3) — clo2 bleaching precursor somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| CACanada | 30% |
| SESweden | 20% |
| USUnited States | 15% |
| FIFinland | 12% |
Who makes it
2 companies produce sodium chlorate (naclo3) — clo2 bleaching precursor.
Largest global sodium chlorate (NaClO3) supplier; also provides ECF ClO2 bleaching technology (Eka brand) to pulp mills; 13 production sites across North America, Scandinavia, and other regions; critical chemical supply chain node for tissue pulp bleaching.
Second-largest sodium chlorate producer globally; operates 5 plants in US, Canada, and Chile; largest installed base of ClO2 generator technology (100+ mills use ERCO generators); critical to North American pulp/tissue bleaching supply chain.
