Caustic Soda, Soda Ash & Calcium Carbonate

Caustic soda, soda ash and calcium carbonate are the three alkalis that every glass plant, paper mill, detergent maker and water utility buys, and each is a different trade. Caustic soda (HS 2815) moves as a 48–50% lye in chemical-tanker parcels and ISO tanks, or as 98–99% flakes and pearls in 25 kg bags, and is bought on NaOH, chloride and iron — membrane grade for alumina and viscose, diaphragm grade for pulp and soap. Soda ash (HS 2836.20) is dense for glass batch and light for detergents and chemicals, 99.2% minimum, natural from trona in the USA and Turkiye or synthetic from Solvay plants in India and China. Calcium carbonate (HS 2836.50) is ground (GCC) or precipitated (PCC) and bought on brightness and particle size, from Omani, Egyptian, Malaysian and Vietnamese deposits. UN Comtrade 2025 export declarations put India at 0.69 million MT of caustic soda at USD 492/MT and the USA at 6.81 million MT of soda ash under 2836.20. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers all three against SGS or Intertek certification, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms, with freight quoted alongside the cargo through its chartering desk.