Detergent & Home Care Raw Materials Hub
LAB/LABSA, SLES, soda ash, caustic, silicate, builders, sodium sulphate, soap noodles and palm oleochemicals
A spray-tower detergent plant runs from 3,000 to 200,000 tonnes a year of powder, and the formulation is mostly bought-in commodity chemicals: sodium sulphate filler at 40–60% of the powder, LABSA at 5–12% (economy), 12–16% (mid) or 16–28% (premium) active, soda ash at 5–12%, plus sodium silicate and an STPP or zeolite 4A builder. LAB for sulphonation is specified on bromine index under 10, on the sulphonatable content and on the 2-phenyl isomer share, and is supplied as a C10–C13 or C12–C15 cut. Liquids and dishwash use SLES 70% (68–72% active, 1,4-dioxane 10–50 ppm max by grade) and C12–14 alcohol ethoxylates. Toilet soap lines melt 80/20 palm and palm-kernel noodles at 78% TFM min. EU and UK consumer laundry powders are capped at 0.5 g phosphorus per standard wash since June 2013 and automatic dishwasher detergents at 0.3 g since 1 January 2017 (Regulation (EU) 259/2012 amending 648/2004), which is why zeolite 4A and citrate carry the builder load in those markets while STPP still runs elsewhere.
CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers these inputs from LAB and sulphonation plants, chlor-alkali and soda ash producers, phosphate and zeolite makers and Malaysian and Indonesian oleochemical refiners to detergent and soap plants in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America. All fatty-matter inputs are palm or palm-kernel based, halal-certified by a body the destination accepts (JAKIM, MUI or equivalent) and RSPO mass-balance where asked; no tallow. Dry chemicals ship in 25 kg or 50 kg bags and 1 MT big bags in 20-ft containers or as bagged and bulk Handysize lots; LAB, LABSA (UN 2586, Class 8, PG III) and caustic 50% move in ISO tanks or parcel-tanker lots fixed by LaycanDesk.
Procurement & Freight Structure
Dual-loop execution: physical commodity brokerage + ocean charterparty.
One desk covering the surfactant, alkali, builder, filler and palm-oleochemical lines against a single crutcher calendar, with LaycanDesk fixing the acid and caustic parcels and the bagged soda ash and sulphate lots.
Procured Feedstocks & Maritime Profiles
Each raw material is contracted on chemical purity, physical particle sizing, and mandatory IMO/IMSBC code stowage factors to prevent liquefaction or contamination.
| Feedstock | Grade & Purity Spec | Form / Carriage | IMSBC Code | Stowage Factor | Typical Parcel | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) & LABSA 96%C₁₀₋₁₃H₂₁₋₂₇C₆H₅ / R-C₆H₄-SO₃H | LAB bromine index < 10, C10–C13 cut; LABSA ≥ 96% active, free H₂SO₄ 1 – 2%, unsulphonated ≈ 1% | LAB clear liquid (density 0.863 kg/L); LABSA viscous brown liquid (UN 2586, Class 8, PG III) | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Liquid – by tank; LAB SG 0.86 (Liquid – by tank; LAB SG 0.86) | 1,000 – 5,000 MT parcel-tanker lots; 20 – 22 MT ISO tanks; 200 kg drums / IBCs | Spec →Ship → |
| SLES 70% & C12–14 Alcohol EthoxylatesC₁₂H₂₅(OCH₂CH₂)ₙOSO₃Na / C₁₂₋₁₄H₂₅₋₂₉(OCH₂CH₂)₇OH | SLES 68 – 72% active, water 24 – 28%, Na₂SO₄ ≤ 1.0%, 1,4-dioxane ≤ 10 – 50 ppm; AE-7 OH value 110 – 118 mg KOH/g | SLES 70% paste (density 1.05 g/cm³); ethoxylate clear-to-hazy liquid | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Containerised – per pack; SG 1.05 (Containerised – per pack; SG 1.05) | 18 – 20 MT per 20-ft (IBCs / 170 kg drums); flexitank or ISO tank | Spec →Ship → |
| Dense Soda Ash & Caustic SodaNa₂CO₃ / NaOH | Soda ash dense ≥ 99.2% Na₂CO₃, bulk density 0.9 – 1.1 g/cm³; caustic 50% liquid or 99% flakes/pearls | Dense granular soda ash (bags/big bags/bulk); caustic 50% liquid (UN 1824, Class 8) or flakes/pearls | Group C | 40 – 45 cu.ft/MT (soda ash, bagged) (1.13 – 1.27 m³/t (soda ash, bagged)) | 25 – 26 MT per 20-ft (soda ash bags); 5,000 – 25,000 MT Handysize bagged/bulk; caustic 1,000 – 10,000 MT parcels | Spec →Ship → |
| Builders: Sodium Silicate, STPP, Zeolite 4A & Citric AcidNa₂O·nSiO₂ / Na₅P₃O₁₀ / Na₁₂Al₁₂Si₁₂O₄₈·27H₂O / C₆H₈O₇ | Silicate ratio 1.95 – 2.05 at 49.5 – 50.5°Bé (or 2.2 – 2.5); STPP ≥ 94%, P₂O₅ 57 – 59%; zeolite 4A CEC ≥ 295 mg CaCO₃/g; citric acid 99.5 – 100.5% (BP/USP) | Silicate liquid (IBC/ISO tank) or glass; STPP, zeolite and citric acid powders in 25 kg bags / big bags | Group C | Containerised – per pack (Containerised – per pack) | 20 – 25 MT per 20-ft container | Spec →Ship → |
| Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate (Detergent Filler)Na₂SO₄ | ≥ 99.0% Na₂SO₄ · moisture ≤ 0.20% · NaCl ≤ 0.35% · Fe ≤ 20 ppm · water-insolubles ≤ 0.05% | White free-flowing crystalline powder | Group C | Per pack – bagged or big bags (Per pack – bagged or big bags) | 25 – 26 MT per 20-ft (50 kg bags / big bags); 5,000 – 25,000 MT bagged Handysize lots | Spec →Ship → |
| Soap Noodles 80/20 (Palm / Palm Kernel), TFM 78% | TFM ≥ 78% · moisture ≤ 14% · free alkali (NaOH) ≤ 0.01% · NaCl ≤ 0.8% | White or snow-white noodles in 25 kg bags on pallets | Group C | Containerised – per pack (Containerised – per pack) | 20 – 24 MT per 20-ft container | Spec →Ship → |
| Palm Stearin, Refined Glycerine 99.7% & Perfume CarriersTriglyceride blend / C₃H₈O₃ | RBD palm stearin IV ≤ 48 (PORAM); glycerine ≥ 99.7% USP/BP; carriers (DPG, IPM) per producer COA | Stearin solid/flakes or heated bulk liquid; glycerine clear viscous liquid in drums, IBCs, flexitanks | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Liquid – by tank / containerised (Liquid – by tank / containerised) | Stearin 20 – 22 MT flexitank / 500 – 3,000 MT parcel; glycerine 20 – 24 MT per 20-ft (IBC/drum) | Spec →Ship → |
Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) & LABSA 96%
LAB for plants with their own SO₃ sulphonation, LABSA for plants that neutralise in the crutcher. Bromine index, sulphonatable content and 2-phenyl share set sulphonation yield and colour; LABSA active matter, free oil and free acid are certified per tank.
SLES 70% & C12–14 Alcohol Ethoxylates
SLES 70% (2 EO or 3 EO) for dishwash, liquid detergent and shampoo; C12–14 fatty alcohol 7 EO nonionic for liquids and compact powders (hydroxyl number 110–118, cloud point 55–59°C). Both built on palm-kernel C12–14 alcohol from halal-certified refiners; ethoxylates have no page yet and are quoted on request.
Dense Soda Ash & Caustic Soda
Dense soda ash is the alkalinity source and 5–12% of a spray-dried powder; caustic soda neutralises LABSA in the crutcher and saponifies fats on soap lines. Soda ash ships bagged or in bulk under the IMSBC Code; caustic 50% in ISO tanks or parcel tankers (see the caustic-soda spoke).
Builders: Sodium Silicate, STPP, Zeolite 4A & Citric Acid
Sodium silicate gives corrosion protection and crisp powder structure; STPP is the phosphate builder where still permitted; zeolite 4A and citrate replace it in the EU and UK (0.5 g P per laundry wash cap since June 2013, 0.3 g for dishwasher detergents since 2017). None of the four has its own page yet; quoted on request against the producer's COA.
Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate (Detergent Filler)
The filler and anti-caking agent at 40–60% of a conventional spray-dried powder. Natural (Glauber's salt) or by-product (viscose, dichromate) grades to 99% min; whiteness and moisture matter more than assay once above the floor.
Soap Noodles 80/20 (Palm / Palm Kernel), TFM 78%
80% RBD palm oil / palm stearin and 20% palm kernel or coconut oil saponified into toilet-soap base. Indonesia declared about USD 485 million of soap-noodle exports in 2024 and ships roughly two-thirds of world volume, Malaysia about a quarter. Halal-certified (JAKIM / MUI) and tallow-free by specification; soap noodles have no page yet and are quoted on request.
Palm Stearin, Refined Glycerine 99.7% & Perfume Carriers
RBD palm stearin is the hard fat for soap kettles and the fatty-acid route into stearic acid (see spoke); refined glycerine 99.7% USP is the humectant in liquid soap, dishwash and translucent bars; dipropylene glycol and isopropyl myristate carry fragrance. Stearin, DPG and IPM have no page yet and are quoted on request. Palm sourcing is halal-certified and RSPO MB where asked.
Ocean Chartering & Laycan Programme
Plant downtime and demurrage at loading/discharge terminals can rapidly exceed commodity trading margins. LaycanDesk synchronizes vessel size matching, Notice of Readiness (NOR) tenders, and continuous laytime tracking.
COA & Maritime Execution Rules
Corrosive and Alkali Parcels under the IBC Code
LABSA (UN 2586, Class 8, PG III) and caustic soda 50% (UN 1824, Class 8) move in ISO tanks or parcel tankers with compatible tank linings; caustic 50% needs heating to stay above its crystallisation point and LABSA is kept below hydrolysis temperatures. LaycanDesk vets previous cargoes and tank coatings before nomination.
Bagged Soda Ash and Sulphate on Handysize
Plant-scale soda ash and sodium sulphate ship in 50 kg bags or big bags, or in bulk under the IMSBC Code; bagged soda ash stows at 1.13 – 1.27 m³/t. Dry holds, no contact with acids or moisture, and tally at both ends.
Halal Chain of Custody on Oleochemicals
Soap noodles, palm stearin, fatty alcohols and glycerine ship with the refiner's halal certificate (JAKIM, MUI or an equivalent the destination accepts) and, where required, RSPO mass-balance documentation. Tallow-derived inputs are not offered.
Phosphate Builders by Destination
STPP is quoted only for markets where consumer laundry phosphate is still permitted; EU and UK consumer laundry and dishwasher detergents are capped at 0.5 g and 0.3 g phosphorus per wash, and those buyers take zeolite 4A and citrate instead.
- • Port Klang, Pasir Gudang & Kuantan (Malaysia – soap noodles, fatty alcohols, palm stearin, glycerine)
- • Belawan & Dumai (Indonesia – soap noodles, palm stearin, PKO derivatives)
- • Kandla, Mundra & Nhava Sheva (India – LAB, LABSA, SLES, soda ash, STPP)
- • Qingdao, Tianjin & Lianyungang (China – soda ash, sodium sulphate, STPP, zeolite, citric acid)
- • Ain Sokhna & Alexandria (Egypt – soda ash, LABSA, SLES)
- • West Africa (Lagos, Tema, Abidjan, Dakar, Douala)
- • East & Southern Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Maputo, Durban)
- • South Asia (Karachi, Chittagong, Colombo)
- • Eastern Mediterranean & Levant (Mersin, Beirut, Aqaba)
- • Latin America (Guayaquil, Callao, Cartagena, Santos)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBIL supply a spray-tower plant's full powder recipe?
Yes. LAB or LABSA, dense soda ash, sodium silicate, STPP or zeolite 4A, sodium sulphate and caustic soda are quoted as separate lines on one delivery calendar, with the acid and caustic parcels and the bagged alkali lots fixed by LaycanDesk.
Are all fatty-matter inputs halal and tallow-free?
Yes. Soap noodles, palm stearin, fatty alcohols, ethoxylates and glycerine are palm or palm-kernel based from refiners holding halal certification (JAKIM, MUI or equivalent). Tallow-based noodles and fatty acids are not offered.
LAB or LABSA – which should a plant buy?
Plants with an SO₃ falling-film sulphonator buy LAB (bromine index under 10, C10–C13 cut) and make their own acid; plants without one buy LABSA 96% and neutralise in the crutcher. LABSA is a Class 8 corrosive (UN 2586) and ships in lined ISO tanks, IBCs or drums.
What documents accompany each shipment?
Producer's certificate of analysis, SDS, certificate of origin, packing list and clean on-board bill of lading; halal and RSPO certificates for oleochemicals; independent inspection certificate (SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas) where the buyer specifies it. Payment by irrevocable letter of credit at sight or as agreed.
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