Caustic Soda Supplier Moldova: Sodium Hydroxide Flakes from Türkiye & Dubai
Bulk NaOH for Moldova,
trucked from Türkiye
SUHA International Trading is a caustic soda supplier for Moldova serving importers, distributors and factories. We ship sodium hydroxide flakes 98%, pearls 99% and liquid 30–50% mainly from Türkiye: by ADR truck to Chișinău in about 5–7 days, or by sea through Constanța. Turkish-origin caustic soda enters Moldova at 0% duty with a EUR.1 certificate, and our Dubai head office adds a second source.
- Main origin
- Türkiye · Istanbul & Ankara stock
- Second source
- Dubai · Jebel Ali
- Grades
- Flakes 98% · Pearls 99% · Liquid
- MOQ
- 25 MT · or one full truck
- HS / UN
- 2815 11 · UN 1823
- Lead time
- 7–10 working days
- 25 MTMOQ · 1×20ft or 1 truck
- 5–7 daysTruck to Chișinău
- 0% dutyWith EUR.1 from Türkiye
- 24 hOffer turnaround
Why caustic soda from Turkey is the best fit for Moldova
Moldova has no chlor-alkali plant, so every tonne of caustic soda in the country is imported. The question for a Moldovan buyer is which origin gives the lowest landed cost with the least risk. For solid caustic soda, Türkiye wins on four points.
0% duty under the Moldova–Türkiye FTA
The free trade agreement in force since 1 November 2016 cancelled import duties on industrial products. With a EUR.1 certificate, Turkish caustic soda clears at 0% duty, on the same footing as EU-origin product under the DCFTA. Non-FTA origins pay Moldova's standard rate.
Road delivery with no sea leg
A truck loaded in Istanbul or Ankara reaches Chișinău in about 5–7 days through Bulgaria and Romania under TIR or EU transit, so nothing is cleared in the EU on the way. No port congestion, no Red Sea exposure, delivery to your gate.
Proven by Moldova's own import data
UN Comtrade data shows Türkiye shipped 249 t of the 815 t of solid caustic soda Moldova imported in 2024, up from 182 t in 2023, making it the second-largest source after Romania.
Loads sized for a small market
Moldova imports roughly 800–1,000 t of solid caustic soda a year, about 33 to 40 full loads. Buying one truck or one container at a time from stock in Türkiye fits that scale without tying up cash in a year of inventory.
How Türkiye compares with other origins for Moldova
| Origin | Duty into Moldova | Route and time | Best for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye Recommended | 0% with EUR.1 (FTA) | ADR truck 5–7 days, or sea to Constanța then truck | Flakes and pearls, full truck or FCL | Book ADR trucks early before winter and holidays |
| Romania / EU | 0% with EU origin proof (DCFTA) | Road, 1–2 days | Liquid lye by road tanker, small top-up lots | One dominant source; less choice on grade and packing |
| UAE (Dubai) | Standard MFN rate — no FTA | Sea via Suez to Constanța, 3–5 weeks | Second source, contracts through Dubai | Longer transit; Red Sea and Gulf of Aden conditions |
| China / Far East | Standard MFN rate — no FTA | Sea 5–8 weeks plus transhipment | Large one-off tenders | Long cash cycle; caking risk on long voyages |
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We also supply Moldova from Dubai
Our head office is in Dubai, and we load caustic soda at Jebel Ali when Turkish allocation is tight, when a buyer wants a second approved origin in the contract, or when payment is easier through a UAE entity. For most Moldovan orders Türkiye stays the faster, duty-free route, and we say so in every offer. See our caustic soda supplier UAE page for the Jebel Ali programme and our caustic soda supplier Turkey page for the Mersin export desk.
Caustic soda flakes, pearls and liquid for Moldovan buyers
Three forms of sodium hydroxide, one chemistry (CAS 1310-73-2). Each lot ships with its certificate of analysis. Specifications below match the figures on our other product pages.
Caustic soda flakes 98%
- Standard choice for distributors reselling 25 kg bags
- Soap makers, plant cleaning and CIP
- Dry warehouse storage, 24 months sealed
- Details: caustic soda flakes
Caustic soda pearls 99%
- Automated dosing and food processing
- Tighter carbonate and iron limits
- Same HS code and shelf life as flakes
- Details: caustic soda pearls
Liquid caustic soda 30–50%
- No dissolving step at your plant
- 50% lye crystallises below about 12 °C
- Freight paid on roughly half water
- Details: liquid caustic soda
Specification for shipments to Moldova
| Parameter | Flakes 98% | Pearls 99% | Liquid 50% | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NaOH assay | ≥ 98.0% | ≥ 99.0% | ≥ 48.0% | ISO 979 / ASTM E291 |
| Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) | ≤ 0.8% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 0.2% | ISO 3196 |
| Sodium chloride (NaCl) | ≤ 0.05% | ≤ 0.03% | ≤ 0.005% | Argentometric titration |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 10 ppm | ≤ 5 ppm | ≤ 2 ppm | ICP-OES |
| Physical form | White flakes, 2–5 mm | White beads, 0.5–2 mm | Clear to slightly turbid liquid | Visual |
| Bulk density (stowage) | 1,100–1,300 kg/m³ | 1,200–1,400 kg/m³ | ≈ 1.52 g/cm³ at 20 °C | Gravimetric |
| UN number | UN 1823 | UN 1823 | UN 1824 | ADR / IMDG Class 8, PG II |
| HS code | 2815 11 | 2815 11 | 2815 12 | Harmonized System |
| Shelf life, sealed | 24 months | 24 months | ≈ 12 months | — |
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Which form suits Moldova?
Liquid lye ships roughly half water, so freight per tonne of active NaOH is much higher, and Moldovan winters make unheated tanks a problem. That is why Moldova's liquid imports come almost entirely by road from Romania and Bulgaria, while flakes and pearls travel well from Türkiye. Compare them in caustic soda flakes vs liquid caustic soda and types and grades of caustic soda.
Check today's caustic soda prices before you ask for an offer
We keep prices on dedicated pages so they stay current. Use these three to see export levels by grade, flakes by purity and packing, and the indicative landed range for Moldova. Then send your RFQ for a firm number.
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By grade · FOB
Caustic soda price today
Current export levels for flakes, pearls and liquid NaOH, with MOQ, packing and HS codes.
Open price page -
Flakes 98% · per ton
Caustic soda flakes price
Flakes only: price by purity, packing, loading port and Incoterm, plus container loading.
Open flakes price -
Landed · incl. Moldova
Caustic soda price by country
Indicative CIF landed range for Moldova next to its neighbours, with a landed-cost calculator.
Open country prices
Prices move with the loading week, route and packing. For a firm offer for Moldova, WhatsApp +971 50 720 9246 or email info@causticsodaco.com.
Shipping routes from Türkiye to Moldova: road, sea and Danube
Moldova is landlocked apart from a short stretch of Danube bank at Giurgiulești, so every import route ends with a truck, a train or a river vessel. We quote the route that gives the lowest landed cost for your volume and delivery point.
| Route | How it works | Typical time | Suits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADR truck from Türkiye Recommended | Loaded at Istanbul or Ankara stock, exits Türkiye at Kapıkule, transits Bulgaria and Romania under TIR or EU transit, enters Moldova at Albița–Leușeni, Sculeni or Giurgiulești | 5–7 days (+1–2 in winter) | One full truck of bags or jumbo bags to your warehouse | Available |
| Sea to Constanța + truck | 20ft container from Mersin to Constanța, then road or rail into Moldova | 4–6 days at sea · 6–11 days port to door | Several containers; buyers already clearing via Constanța | Available |
| Danube via Giurgiulești | River-sea vessel or transhipment to Giurgiulești International Free Port, Moldova's only port for sea-going ships (up to 7 m draft) | Depends on vessel schedule | Larger lots, southern Moldova, free-zone storage | On enquiry |
| Sea from Dubai | Jebel Ali to Constanța via the Suez Canal, then truck to Moldova | 3–5 weeks incl. transhipment | Second source or contracts through the UAE | Available |
| Odesa / Ukrainian ports | Discharge in Ukraine and truck across the border | Unpredictable | — | Not advised in 2026 |
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Rail gauge change
Moldova's railways use the 1520 mm gauge while Romania uses 1435 mm, so rail freight changes bogies or transships at the border, for example around Ungheni. Giurgiulești port has both gauges on site.
Giurgiulești in 2026
In April 2026 Romania's Port of Constanța completed its purchase of the Giurgiulești port operator from the EBRD, linking Moldova's only sea-river port more closely with Constanța.
Traders using Moldova as a transit point to Ukraine can read our caustic soda supplier Ukraine page, and Romanian importers our caustic soda supplier Romania page, which covers Constanța in detail.
Importing caustic soda into Moldova: duty, VAT, documents and labels
Clearing sodium hydroxide into Moldova is routine when the paperwork is right. A licensed customs broker files the declaration; your job is to make sure the supplier sends the documents below before the truck reaches the border.
- Classify the productHS 2815 11 for flakes and pearls, HS 2815 12 for liquid. Your broker adds Moldova's national digits.
- Prove Turkish origin for 0% dutyWe issue a EUR.1 movement certificate, or an origin declaration on the invoice where the exporter qualifies, under the Moldova–Türkiye FTA and its revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean origin rules in force since 1 January 2026. An A.TR certificate is not valid for Moldova.
- Pay import VATMoldova charges 20% VAT on the customs value plus any duty and customs fees. VAT-registered importers normally recover it.
- Check chemical labellingLaw No. 277/2018 on chemical substances brings Moldova's classification and labelling in line with the GHS model. Bags carry the corrosive pictogram with hazard statements H290 and H314.
- Move it as dangerous goodsUN 1823 (solid) or UN 1824 (liquid), Class 8, packing group II, under ADR on the road. Tunnel restriction code E applies to solid caustic soda.
Documents supplied with every shipment
| Document | Issued by | Why you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | SUHA International Trading | Customs value, quantities, bag and pallet count |
| EUR.1 or origin declaration | Turkish chamber / exporter | 0% duty under the Moldova–Türkiye FTA |
| Certificate of analysis (COA) | Producer laboratory | NaOH assay, carbonate, chloride, iron for your QC file |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | Producer / SUHA | Hazard data, storage and first aid; Romanian version on request |
| CMR consignment note | Road carrier | Transport contract and proof of delivery for road loads |
| Bill of lading | Shipping line | Sea shipments via Constanța or Giurgiulești |
| ADR dangerous goods declaration | Shipper / carrier | Required for UN 1823 and UN 1824 on the road |
| Inspection certificate (optional) | SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas | Independent quantity and quality check before loading |
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Where sodium hydroxide is used in Moldova
Moldova's economy runs on food, wine and light industry rather than heavy chemicals, so caustic soda demand comes from cleaning, refining and water treatment. These are the buyers we see most often, with the job NaOH does in each and the form that suits it.
Wineries and distilleries
Moldova's signature industry
Hot caustic solutions strip tartrate from steel tanks and run CIP circuits and bottle washers between batches.
- Job
- Tartrate removal, CIP
- Typical use
- Dilute hot solution
- Best form
- Flakes 98% or pearls
Sunflower oil refining
Alkali (chemical) refining
Caustic lye neutralises the free fatty acids in crude oil; the soapstock that forms is separated off before bleaching.
- Job
- FFA neutralisation
- Typical use
- Lye, commonly 12–20 °Bé
- Best form
- Flakes dissolved on site
Sugar, fruit and vegetables
Canning, juice and beet sugar
Lye peeling of fruit and vegetables in canning and juice plants, and caustic boil-out of evaporators in beet sugar factories.
- Job
- Peeling, descaling
- Typical use
- Hot lye, strength set by crop
- Best form
- Flakes 98%
Dairy, brewing and beverages
Clean-in-place
Caustic CIP cleans pipelines, pasteurisers, tanks and fillers, removing protein and fat deposits.
- Job
- CIP cleaning
- Typical use
- 0.5–2% at 70–80 °C
- Best form
- Pearls 99% or liquid
Water and wastewater
Utilities and industrial effluent
Dosed to raise and hold pH at treatment plants and to neutralise acidic industrial effluent before discharge.
- Job
- pH correction
- Typical use
- Drinking water pH 6.5–9.5
- Best form
- Liquid, or flakes dissolved
Soap, detergents and cleaners
Local brands and private label
Saponification of oils and fats for bar and liquid soap, plus alkaline degreasers and cleaning products.
- Job
- Saponification
- Typical use
- ≈ 0.13–0.19 kg NaOH per kg oil
- Best form
- Flakes 98%
Smaller users include textile finishers (caustic soda for textile processing), biodiesel producers (caustic soda in biodiesel production) and agrochemical formulators (caustic soda in agriculture). Water utilities often buy caustic soda together with sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride and aluminium sulfate, and food plants with citric acid; we can consolidate them on the same truck.
Who we supply with bulk caustic soda in Moldova
Importers and distributors
Full trucks of 25 kg bags for resale to hardware chains, cleaning-product makers and farms across Chișinău, Bălți, Cahul, Ungheni and Comrat, with neutral or branded bags.
Manufacturers
Direct supply to soap and detergent makers, food and beverage plants, oil refiners and water utilities that use a truck or more a quarter and want to cut out the distributor margin.
Traders and re-exporters
Back-to-back contracts, neutral packing and document sets for onward sale into Romania or Ukraine, with origin documents matched to the final destination.
Tender bidders
Specification sheets, COAs, SDS and origin information for companies bidding on public contracts in Moldova, with firm validity dates on the offer.
Moldova caustic soda imports by country of origin
UN Comtrade figures, as published in the World Bank WITS database. A small, concentrated market: Romania leads, Türkiye is growing, and liquid lye moves almost entirely by road from EU neighbours.
| Origin (solid) | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 471 t | 452 t | 55% |
| Türkiye | 182 t | 249 t | 31% |
| Iran | 263 t | 51 t | 6% |
| France | — | 29 t | 4% |
| China | 52 t | 24 t | 3% |
| All origins | 982 t | 815 t | 100% |
| Origin (liquid) | 2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 1,214 t | 79% |
| Bulgaria | 290 t | 19% |
| Hungary | 24 t | 2% |
| Türkiye | 1 t | <1% |
| All origins | 1,537 t | 100% |
What the numbers mean for a buyer
Solid caustic soda is where Turkish supply competes, and it is already taking share: +37% from 2023 to 2024 while total imports fell. A distributor who secures a steady monthly truck from Türkiye controls a meaningful slice of national demand. Global flows are covered in our global chemical market overview.
Soda caustică în Moldova — furnizor angro de hidroxid de sodiu din Turcia
SUHA International Trading livrează sodă caustică (hidroxid de sodiu, NaOH) importatorilor, distribuitorilor și fabricilor din Republica Moldova. Sursa principală este Turcia: sodă caustică fulgi 98%, sodă caustică perle 99% și sodă caustică lichidă 30–50%, în saci de 25 kg, big-bag de 1 tonă sau containere-cisternă ISO.
Marfa ajunge la Chișinău cu camionul ADR în aproximativ 5–7 zile sau pe mare, prin portul Constanța. Cu certificatul EUR.1, taxa vamală la import pentru soda caustică de origine turcă este 0%, în baza Acordului de liber schimb Moldova–Turcia; se aplică TVA de 20%. Livrăm și din Dubai (Emiratele Arabe Unite), ca sursă alternativă.
Pentru prețul sodei caustice angro în Moldova trimiteți pe WhatsApp +971 50 720 9246: produsul și concentrația, cantitatea (un camion complet sau un container de 25 t), ambalajul și locul de livrare.
Caustic soda terms used in Moldova
Moldovan buyers search in Romanian, the state language, and often in Russian. Use this table to match the words on local invoices and websites with the product you are ordering.
| Română | Русский | English | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| sodă caustică (soda caustica) | каустическая сода, сода каустическая | caustic soda | Trade name for NaOH |
| hidroxid de sodiu | гидроксид натрия, едкий натр | sodium hydroxide | Chemical name on SDS and customs papers |
| soda caustica fulgi / solzi | сода каустическая чешуированная | caustic soda flakes 98% | Solid flakes in 25 kg bags |
| soda caustica perle / granule | сода каустическая гранулированная | caustic soda pearls 99% | Solid beads, low dust |
| soda caustica lichida, leșie | жидкий каустик, раствор едкого натра | liquid caustic soda 30–50% | Solution; 50% freezes near +12 °C |
| soda caustica preț Chișinău, angro | каустическая сода купить Кишинёв, оптом | caustic soda price, wholesale | Bulk buying searches |
| potasă caustică | едкое кали | caustic potash (KOH) | Different product |
| sodă calcinată | кальцинированная сода | soda ash (Na₂CO₃) | Different product — see soda ash |
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Packing, loading and minimum order for Moldova
| Packing | Unit | Per 20ft container | By road | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 kg PP bag with PE liner | 25 kg | 1,000 bags · 25 MT | One full ADR truck, palletised | 50 bags per pallet, shrink-wrapped; best for resale |
| Jumbo bag (FIBC) | 1,000 kg | 25 bags · 25 MT | One full ADR truck | Discharge spout; plants with forklift or hoist |
| Flexitank (liquid) | — | ≈ 24 MT | — | Single use; 30–50% solution |
| 20ft ISO tank (liquid) | — | ≈ 24 MT | Tank truck on-carriage | Heated tank recommended for 50% in winter |
| IBC (liquid) | 1,000 L ≈ 1.5 t at 50% | On enquiry | On enquiry | Small liquid users; check freezing risk |
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- MOQ
- 25 MT or one full truck
- Lead time
- 7–10 working days
- Payment
- 30% T/T + 70% vs documents · L/C · D/P
- Road terms
- FCA Istanbul/Ankara · CPT / DAP Moldova
- Sea terms
- FOB Mersin · CFR / CIF Constanța
- Winter
- Solids all year · liquid needs heating
Six lines in your enquiry, one firm offer back within 24 hours
- Product and gradeFlakes 98%, pearls 99% or liquid with concentration, and any limit your specification names.
- QuantityTonnage per shipment and expected annual volume: one truck, one container or a monthly programme.
- Delivery pointYour warehouse address in Moldova, Constanța port, or pickup in Türkiye.
- IncotermDAP or CPT by truck, CFR or CIF Constanța by sea, or FCA Türkiye. Unsure? Say what the price should include.
- Packing and handling25 kg bags or jumbo bags, palletised or loose, neutral or branded, and how your warehouse unloads.
- Documents and paymentEUR.1, SGS or BV inspection if required, and preferred terms: T/T, L/C at sight or D/P.
Storing caustic soda through a Moldovan winter and summer
Flakes and pearls
Keep bags sealed on pallets in a dry, covered warehouse. Caustic soda pulls moisture and carbon dioxide from the air, so open bags cake and slowly turn to carbonate. Keep it away from acids, aluminium, zinc and tin, which release hydrogen on contact. Always add flakes to water, never water to flakes.
Liquid lye
50% caustic soda starts to crystallise below about 12 °C, which is normal outdoor temperature in Moldova for much of the year. Use insulated, heated tanks and trace-heated lines, or order 30–32% solution, which stays liquid at far lower temperatures.
Corrosive, Class 8
Caustic soda causes severe skin burns and eye damage (H314). Wear chemical goggles, alkali-resistant gloves and protective clothing, and keep an eyewash station close to where bags are opened.
Caustic soda supplier Moldova: frequently asked questions
We also supply caustic soda to Moldova's neighbours and beyond
Moldova is one of more than 60 markets where we run a dedicated supply desk. If you sell into several countries or compare routes, these pages cover each market's ports, documents and rules.
Eastern Europe
Balkans
Africa, Americas and Asia
For background on the product, see how caustic soda is made, and read more about SUHA International Trading.
Caustic soda supplier Moldova: send your tonnage, get a firm offer
Grade, quantity, packing and delivery point — that is all it takes. The offer comes back within 24 hours on working days, with the route, transit time and the documents for 0% duty entry into Moldova.
Head office — Dubai
Office 2305, Burlington Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Phone +971 4 566 4998 · WhatsApp +971 50 720 9246
Türkiye office — Ankara
Karşıyaka Mah. 749. Sok. No 30, Gölbaşı, Ankara 06830
Phone +90 312 544 45 81 · Email info@causticsodaco.com
