Wim Hoste's questions to SOLVAY S A /ADR/ (SLVYY) leadership • Q4 2023
Question
Asked for guidance on 2024 debt service costs and for the medium-term outlook on the soda ash market, considering Chinese demand and capacity.
Answer
The annual cost for the total net debt is about €100 million. The midterm outlook for soda ash remains very good, supported by strong demand trends (glass, detergents, bicarbonate). While Chinese construction is down, this is offset by growth in other areas like solar panels. New Chinese capacity is for the domestic market, and the global market is expected to tighten as no other significant capacity is being built yet.