Soda industry started at the end of 18. With the needs of industry and the changes of raw materials for soda production, the production technology of soda (Na2CO3) has developed rapidly, and the production equipment tends to be large-scale, mechanized and automated. 1983 the world output of soda ash is about 30Mt. In the history of soda ash industry, Frenchman N Nicholas LeBlanc, Belgian E Solvi and China Hou all made outstanding contributions.

China soda industry development 1949. There are only two soda plants in Tanggu and Dalian, with a total output of 88kt. In 1950s, soda ash industry developed greatly (see photo). Since 1958, three medium-sized soda plants and a number of small soda plants have been built in Zigong, Sichuan, Qingdao, Shandong and Yingcheng, Hubei, in addition to the expansion and transformation of the original plants. 1985 produced 2Mt of soda ash (excluding Taiwan Province province), which was second only to the United States and the Soviet Union.