Solvay wins Dutch chemicals case

The Dutch court delivered a clear verdict in the dispute between the two chemical companies (case ID: C/09/620782/ HA ZA 21-1000). According to the judgment, Kazan infringed the Dutch part of Solvay’s European patent EP 2 878 579.

Solvay, a global company from Belgium, has historic roots in soda ash production. Recently, its plant in Bad Wimpfen near Heilbronn came under scrutiny over allegations it emitted higher emissions than declared.

Solvay had accused Kazan of infringing its patent with its purified sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. Kazan manufactures the products in Turkey.

Within the Turkish Ciner Group, Kazan belongs to We Soda, which is wholly owned by Kew Soda. All three subsidiaries of Ciner were sued, as were the distribution company Ciner IVDT and Traxys, the distributor of the Kazan product in the Netherlands. The Belgian and French subsidiaries of Solvay had also sued.

EP 579 protects a method for treating and purifying a purge stream from sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate compound crystallisers. The invention reduces sodium alkaline and water loss while improving up-stream and down-stream purge treatments.

The patent specification notes that “Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), or soda ash, is one of the largest volume alkali commodities made worldwide with a total production in 2011 of 53 million tonnes. Sodium carbonate finds major use in the glass, chemicals, detergents industries, and also in the sodium bicarbonate production industry”.

Court finds infringement

The District Court The Hague ordered an immediate cessation of any infringement of the Dutch part of this patent, including production and trade of the infringing sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate products. The court also ordered a recall of the infringing products, with refunds of purchase price and transportation costs.

This means Ciner cannot trade sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen bicarbonate produced by Kazan  in the Netherlands until the patent expires in November 2034

In a statement We Soda announced that the judgement is solely in relation to products by Kazan Soda. “It has no bearing on our production from Eti Soda or from our Wyoming facilities which can still be sold in the Netherlands.” The company also announced an appeal.

A Hogan-Lovells team led by Ruud van der Velden from Amsterdam represented Solvay.

The Turkish Ciner group and its subsidiaries worked with a team led by Peter van Schijndel from Hoynk ROKH Monegier.

JUVE Patent has updated the article on 22. December 2025.