Hydrochloric Acid (30–33%)

30–33% HCl for steel pickling, well acidizing and water treatment

Hydrochloric acid (HS 2806.10) is sold as an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, normally 30–33% HCl, and much of it is a co-product of chlor-alkali production. Because the product is mostly water and low in value per tonne, it trades almost entirely within regions rather than as a long-haul seaborne cargo: freight by road over a few hundred miles can equal the product's own cost. That is why an HCl enquiry is really a question of which producer is closest to the buyer. Hydrochloric acid is UN 1789, class 8 corrosive, packing group II at trade strengths, and it corrodes unlined carbon steel quickly, so it moves in rubber-, neoprene- or HDPE-lined road tankers and ISO tanks, IBCs and drums, with the liner inspected before each load. The certificate shows HCl content, specific gravity, iron, free chlorine, sulphate, heavy metals and colour; food-grade and electronic-grade acid carry tighter limits. Hydrochloric acid is listed in Table II of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, so exporting countries send pre-export notifications to importing governments that have requested them, and some destinations require import permits. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 2806.10 total about USD 424 million across 91 reporters: Germany USD 70 million and 473,000 MT, Canada USD 60 million and 278,000 MT, the USA USD 28 million and 127,000 MT, Belgium USD 25 million and 250,000 MT, the Netherlands USD 19 million and 165,000 MT and Spain USD 16 million and 151,000 MT. Those are declared export values, largely land-border trade, not offers.

The buyer is a steel pickling line or galvaniser, an oilfield service company acidizing carbonate reservoirs, a water or wastewater plant adjusting pH, a food processor, a mining or metals refiner, or a chemical distributor. Documents are the certificate of analysis (COA), the safety data sheet (SDS), a certificate of origin, REACH registration cover for EU imports, and the precursor paperwork the exporting and importing countries require. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers technical and food-grade hydrochloric acid from producers and distributors that can serve the buyer's region, in lined ISO tanks, road tankers, IBCs and drums, on FCA, DAP, FOB and CFR terms. Price is per MT and depends on strength, grade, pack and above all distance. Send the strength, grade, end use, monthly volume, pack and delivery point, and the enquiry is screened and worked against the nearest supply.

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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.