Production
The world production of sodium sulfate, mostly in the form of the decahydrate amounts to approximately 5.5 to 6 million tons annually. In 1985, production was tons, half from natural sources, and half from chemical production. After 2000, at a stable level until 2006, natural production had increased to 4 tons, and chemical production decreased to 1.5 to 2 tons. The principal use of sodium sulfate is in processing wood pulp for making Kraft paper. It is also used in glass manufacture, textile dyeing, and synthetic detergents