CBIL
Industrial Minerals & Construction
All Construction Minerals

Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide, Slaked Lime)

Calcium hydroxide powder by Ca(OH)₂ and fineness: building, water and food grade E526

Hydrated lime under HS 2522.20 is quicklime slaked with just enough water to leave a dry powder of calcium hydroxide, and it is bought on purity, fineness and whatever the end use tests for. Building lime is sold to EN 459-1 as CL 90-S, at least 90% combined calcium and magnesium oxide in hydrated form, or to ASTM C207, which covers four types of hydrated lime for masonry, with Types N and S used in mortar, plaster, stucco and additions to Portland-cement concrete. Industrial and water-treatment grades are written to available Ca(OH)₂, a sieve residue or fineness, free moisture and carbonate. Food grade E526, used as an acidity regulator and firming agent, carries an assay of not less than 95% Ca(OH)₂, acid-insolubles of 0.5% at most and limits on arsenic, lead and barium, and ships under a food-grade certificate from a plant that makes it.

The buyer is a mortar and plaster maker, a builder's merchant, a road contractor stabilising clay soil, a water utility or industrial wastewater plant dosing for pH and softening, a flue-gas treatment operator, or a food processor. Hydrated lime is bulky for its weight and is almost always packed, so container freight is a large part of the delivered price, and it is kept dry so that it does not pick up moisture and carbon dioxide. Vietnamese, Malaysian and Thai kilns that export quicklime also export hydrate. Having already reacted with water, it does not carry quicklime's Group B heat hazard at sea, but it is caustic and handled under its safety data sheet. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers hydrated lime against SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek analysis of Ca(OH)₂, fineness, moisture and, for food grade, heavy metals, with the producer's certificate, a certificate of origin and a safety data sheet, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Lime under HS 2522 is not a CBAM good; the EU list for this sector covers cement under 2523 and calcined clay under 2507. Price is agreed per MT on grade and pack, and minimum orders are confirmed per product and pack. Send the standard, Ca(OH)₂ floor, fineness, pack and destination and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices bulk limestone, gypsum and aggregates freight 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.

Indicative reference

Per MT, on grade and pack USD / MT

as at September 2026

IncotermsFOB · CFR · CIF
OriginsVietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Oman, Turkiye
Packaging25 kg bags and 1 MT jumbo bags in containers or breakbulk
HS Code2522.20

Reference level only — not an offer, and reviewed quarterly. Levels shown are as at September 2026. Firm pricing is quoted per RFQ, subject to volume, terms and inspection.

Typical Specification

CaO + MgO (EN 459-1)≥ 90% for CL 90-S
Ca(OH)₂ Assay (E526)≥ 95%
Acid-Insolubles (E526)≤ 0.5%
Heavy Metals (E526)As, Pb and Ba within food-additive limits
FinenessSieve residue per contract
MoisturePer contract

Specifications are indicative and adjusted to the agreed contract and destination requirements. Final spec confirmed on COA / SGS.

Available Grades

Building Hydrated Lime CL 90-S (EN 459-1)ASTM C207 Type N & Type SIndustrial & Water-Treatment GradeFood Grade E526 (≥ 95% assay)

Applications

  • Mortar, plaster & stucco
  • Water & wastewater treatment
  • Soil stabilisation
  • Flue-gas treatment
  • Food processing (E526)

Category

Industrial Minerals & Construction

Incoterms

FOB · CFR · CIF

Pricing basis

USD / MT

Inspection

SGS / Intertek at load port

Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide, Slaked Lime) — buyer questions

What is the difference between quicklime and hydrated lime?

Quicklime is calcium oxide from the kiln and reacts with water, releasing heat. Hydrated lime is the same lime already slaked to dry calcium hydroxide powder, so it is easier to handle and dose but carries less active lime per tonne. Buyers with a slaker usually buy quicklime; buyers dosing powder directly buy hydrate.

Which standards apply to building hydrated lime?

EN 459-1, where CL 90-S means at least 90% combined calcium and magnesium oxide, and ASTM C207, which covers four types for masonry, with Types N and S used in mortar, plaster and stucco.

What does food grade E526 require?

An assay of not less than 95% calcium hydroxide, acid-insolubles of 0.5% at most and limits on arsenic, lead and barium, from a plant that makes food grade, with its certificate. Industrial hydrate is not a substitute.