Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide)

Flakes, pearls and 50% lye by NaOH, chloride and iron

Caustic soda is one product sold in two physical forms, and the form decides the whole logistics chain before the chemistry is discussed. Caustic soda lye (HS 2815.12) is the 48–50% NaOH solution that leaves the chlor-alkali cell, and it moves in stainless or coated chemical-tanker parcels of 3,000–20,000 MT and in 20–24 MT ISO tanks into a buyer with a storage tank. Caustic soda flakes and pearls (HS 2815.11) are the same liquor evaporated to 98–99% NaOH and sold in 25 kg bags, for buyers who have no tank, who are far inland, or who want to pay freight on 100% caustic instead of 50% water. On the sheet the numbers are NaOH content, sodium carbonate (≤ 0.5–1.0%, the sign of carbon-dioxide pick-up), chloride (≤ 0.01% for membrane grade against up to 1% for diaphragm grade, which is what separates the two processes commercially), iron (≤ 10–20 ppm) and, for lye, specific gravity at 20 °C. Membrane grade is the default in alumina, viscose, food and pharmaceutical use; diaphragm grade is acceptable in pulp, soap and most water treatment and prices lower. The 2025 export declarations under HS 2815 show the Asian and Middle East supply that serves the Indian Ocean and Africa: India 0.69 million MT at an average USD 492/MT, Saudi Arabia 0.27 million MT at USD 412/MT, Egypt 0.18 million MT at USD 351/MT, Thailand 0.16 million MT at USD 361/MT, Canada 59,000 MT at USD 706/MT and Malaysia 76,000 MT at USD 454/MT, across 19 reporting origins. The averages blend lye and solid caustic, which is why the same reporter can show USD 350 one year and USD 500 the next as the mix shifts.

The buyer is an alumina refinery running the Bayer process (the largest single use), a kraft pulp mill, a viscose or textile mercerising plant, a soap and detergent maker, a water utility neutralising acid streams, a food processor or an oil refinery. Alumina, pulp and refineries buy lye by the tanker parcel or the ISO tank; soap makers, textile dyehouses and the distribution trade buy flakes and pearls in bags. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers caustic soda lye, flakes and pearls from Indian, Egyptian, Thai and Malaysian chlor-alkali producers and trader allocations against SGS or Intertek certification of NaOH, sodium carbonate, chloride, iron and specific gravity at load, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Lye parcels are structured in chemical-tanker lots and ISO tanks, and because CBIL also runs a chartering desk (LaycanDesk) that works chemical tankers, freight can be quoted alongside the cargo so a CFR number and an FOB-plus-fixture number are comparable on the same day. Flakes and pearls go in 25 kg bags palletised in containers. Send your grade (membrane or diaphragm), form, monthly offtake and whether you have tank storage, and we will work the origin to it.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices chemical parcel tanker chartering on LaycanDesk.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.