LABSA 96% (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonic Acid)

Linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acid at 96% active matter, class 8 corrosive, in HDPE drums, IBCs and ISO tanks

LABSA is the product of sulphonating LAB with SO3 and is sold as a dark, viscous acid at about 96% active matter. Detergent plants that do not sulphonate themselves buy it and neutralise it with caustic soda or soda ash in the slurry for spray-dried powder, or directly into liquid detergent, dishwash and industrial cleaners. The buyer compares offers on active matter (96% minimum), free oil or unsulphonated matter (commonly 2.0% maximum), free sulphuric acid or inorganic acid (commonly 1.5% maximum) and Klett colour of a 5% solution, and on the 2-phenyl content of the LAB behind it. Under HS 2022 the acid and its salts have their own subheading, 3402.31, which replaced the old 3402.11 anionic line. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under 3402.31 total USD 979 million and about 565,000 MT across 85 reporters, led by India at USD 149 million and 121,200 MT, South Korea at USD 133 million and 100,100 MT, the USA at USD 97 million, Germany at USD 95 million, Italy at USD 63 million, China at USD 44 million, Egypt at USD 41 million and 23,300 MT, Hungary at USD 31 million, Spain at USD 24 million and Türkiye at USD 17 million. Those are declared export values, not offers. Moeve Chemicals at Camaçari and Unggul Indah Cahaya's LABSA plant in Dong Nai, Viet Nam, with 47,500 MT a year, are examples of named sulphonators.

LABSA with not more than 5% free sulphuric acid is UN 2586, alkylsulphonic acids, liquid, class 8, packing group III, tunnel code E under ADR; acid with more than 5% free sulphuric acid is UN 2584, packing group II. As corrosive dangerous goods it cannot go in flexitanks, so it moves in 210-220 kg HDPE drums or 1,000-1,050 kg IBCs stowed in 20-ft dry containers with IMDG declarations, or in stainless ISO tanks. The buyers are detergent makers that neutralise acid rather than run their own sulphonator. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers LABSA against the producer's certificate of analysis per lot, safety data sheet, dangerous goods declaration, certificate of origin and, for EU imports, REACH registration held by the importer or only representative, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Price is per MT on grade and pack. Minimum orders are confirmed per product and pack. Send the active matter, free oil and acid limits, packing, tonnage and discharge port, and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

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.