Alkali & Inorganic Chemicals: Caustic Soda, Soda Ash, Peroxide & Chlorides

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. The 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, with Turkiye declaring 5.61 million MT under HS 2836. Around them sit the inorganic chemicals the same buyers order next. Sodium bicarbonate (HS 2836.30) in food, pharma, feed and technical grades; calcium chloride (HS 2827.20) as 74–77% flakes, 94–97% anhydrous prills and 35% liquid for de-icing, drilling brines and dust control; sodium sulphate anhydrous (HS 2833.11) at 99% for detergents and glass; hydrogen peroxide (HS 2847.00) at 35–70%, a class 5.1 oxidiser, for pulp, textiles, mining and water; hydrochloric acid (HS 2806.10) at 30–33%, UN 1789, which trades mostly within regions; and calcium hypochlorite (HS 2828.10) at 65–70% in 45 kg drums for water treatment. The 2024 export declarations put China at USD 238 million of calcium chloride and USD 293 million of sodium sulphate, Belgium at USD 129 million of hydrogen peroxide and China at USD 131 million of calcium hypochlorite. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers these products against certificate of analysis and safety data sheet, on FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP terms, with freight quoted alongside bulk cargo through its chartering desk; every enquiry is screened.