Caustic Soda Price Today | Per Ton FOB — August 2026
Updated ·

Caustic Soda Price Today — Flakes, Pearls & Liquid NaOH

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) is quoted at $685–735/MT for flakes 98%, $550–620/MT for pearls 99%, and $270–340/MT for liquid NaOH 30–50% — all FOB Jebel Ali (UAE) and Mersin (Turkey), from SUHA International Trading's confirmed August 2026 export offers.

Loading ports: Jebel Ali (Dubai, UAE) · Mersin (Turkey)
Incoterms: FOB · CFR · CIF  |  MOQ: 20–24 MT (1 × 20' FCL)
Packing: 25 kg PP bags · 1 MT jumbo bags · Flexitank / ISO tank
Flakes 98% FOB
685–735
▲ +0.7% vs July
Pearls 99% FOB
550–620
▲ +0.9% vs July
Liquid NaOH FOB
270–340
▲ +1.7% vs July

How much does caustic soda cost in August 2026?

Caustic soda is traded per metric ton (MT), not per kilo. As of , indicative export prices from Jebel Ali (UAE) and Mersin (Turkey) are:

  • Flakes, NaOH 98%: $685–735/MT FOB — about $0.69–0.74 per kg, MOQ 24 MT.
  • Pearls, NaOH 99%: $550–620/MT FOB — about $0.55–0.62 per kg, MOQ 20 MT.
  • Liquid, NaOH 30–50%: $270–340/MT FOB — about $0.27–0.34 per kg, MOQ 20 MT.
  • Landed CIF, Africa & South Asia: $725–905/MT for flakes, by destination port.

Assessed by the SUHA International Trading export desk from live August 2026 offers for 1–3 × 20' FCL lots. Last reviewed 2 August 2026 · Dubai, UAE & Ankara, Turkey.

At a glance · USD per MT

Flakes 98% FOB685–735
Pearls 99% FOB550–620
Liquid 30–50% FOB270–340
CIF Mombasa755–825
CIF Lagos815–905

FOB Jebel Ali & Mersin. Includes IMDG Class 8 port handling and export documents.

FOB prices

Caustic soda price table — August 2026

Indicative FOB prices valid through , including dangerous-goods port surcharges and standard export documentation.

Caustic soda FOB prices, August 2026, by product, specification, packing and loading port
ProductSpecPackingLoading portFOB priceChangeMOQTerm
Flakes NaOH 98% 25 kg PP / jumbo Jebel Ali (UAE) Mersin (TR) 685–735 USD/MT ▲ +0.7% 24 MT FOB
Pearls NaOH 99% 25 kg PP Jebel Ali (UAE) Mersin (TR) 550–620 USD/MT ▲ +0.9% 20 MT FOB
Liquid NaOH 30–50% Flexitank / ISO tank Jebel Ali (UAE) 270–340 USD/MT ▲ +1.7% 20 MT FOB

← Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

⚠ Why UAE and Turkey FOB levels differ from global spot indices

Published indices such as ICIS or Intratec mostly track bulk contract cargoes and domestic export levels — solid flakes ≥98% have been assessed near $500–510/MT FOB Northeast Asia through 2026, with Asian levels capped by oversupply. Prices here are for containerised 1–3 FCL lots and include dangerous-goods port handling (UN 1823 / UN 1824, IMDG Class 8), premium 25 kg PP bagging, SGS/BV inspection readiness and full export documentation. Per-MT pricing for small parcels is structurally higher than bulk contract rates. If you also buy soda ash or sodium hypochlorite, combining grades into one shipment usually improves the per-MT number.
Price by product

Detailed price by grade and form

Three commercial forms of the same compound. Purity, packing and freight economics decide which one is cheapest for your plant.

98% min · UN 1823

Caustic soda flakes price

$685–735USD / MT FOB

The workhorse grade for soap and detergent production, textile mercerising and water treatment. No water weight, so it is normally the cheapest form to freight long distance.

Spec
NaOH 98% min
Packing
25 kg PP · 1 MT jumbo
Loading
Jebel Ali · Mersin
MOQ
24 MT (1 × 20' FCL)
HS code
2815.11
Full flakes specification →
99% min · UN 1823

Caustic soda pearls price

$550–620USD / MT FOB

Higher purity, uniform particle size and far less dust on handling — the usual choice for food-grade processing, pharmaceutical work and automated dosing systems.

Spec
NaOH 99% min
Packing
25 kg PP bags
Loading
Jebel Ali · Mersin
MOQ
20 MT (1 × 20' FCL)
HS code
2815.11
Full pearls specification →
30–50% · UN 1824

Liquid caustic soda price

$270–340USD / MT FOB

Cheapest per ton of solution, but half of a 50% shipment is water. Best where you are near the port and already run dosing tanks — municipal water treatment, mineral processing and continuous plants.

Spec
NaOH 30–50% solution
Packing
Flexitank · ISO tank
Loading
Jebel Ali
MOQ
20 MT (1 × 20' FCL)
HS code
2815.12
Full liquid NaOH specification →
Flakes or liquid — which is actually cheaper? Compare on NaOH content, not on product weight. A 50% solution at $305/MT is about $610 per MT of contained NaOH before you pay freight on the water; flakes at $710/MT deliver 98% NaOH. Past roughly 1,000 km of inland haulage, flakes almost always win. Liquid wins on handling: no bag opening, no dust, no dissolving step, and it removes the exotherm risk described in our guide to storing caustic soda safely.
CIF estimates

Caustic soda CIF destination price guide

Indicative CIF levels for flakes 98%, calculated as August 2026 FOB plus estimated ocean freight for one 20' FCL. Destination terminal handling, duty and demurrage are excluded.

Indicative CIF prices for caustic soda flakes to ports in Africa and Asia, August 2026
Destination portCountryBest originEst. freightIndicative CIFTransitContainer
MombasaKenyaJebel Ali (UAE)$70–90/MT755–825 USD/MT7–10 days20' FCL
Lagos (Apapa)NigeriaMersin (TR)$130–170/MT815–905 USD/MT10–14 days20' FCL
ColomboSri LankaJebel Ali (UAE)$60–80/MT745–815 USD/MT5–8 days20' FCL
ChittagongBangladeshJebel Ali (UAE)$75–100/MT760–835 USD/MT10–14 days20' FCL
TemaGhanaMersin (TR)$120–155/MT805–890 USD/MT11–16 days20' FCL
AlexandriaEgyptMersin (TR)$40–60/MT725–795 USD/MT3–5 days20' FCL
Dar es SalaamTanzaniaJebel Ali (UAE)$80–105/MT765–840 USD/MT8–12 days20' FCL
Ho Chi Minh CityVietnamJebel Ali (UAE)$100–135/MT785–870 USD/MT14–18 days20' FCL

← Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Freight is an estimate and moves with carrier space, bunker levels and dangerous-goods acceptance. For a firm CIF number to your port, message the logistics desk on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form.

Market intelligence

What is driving caustic soda prices in H2 2026?

Caustic soda and chlorine are co-produced in a fixed ratio — roughly 1.1 tonnes of NaOH per tonne of chlorine — so supply is set largely by chlorine and PVC economics, while demand comes from alumina, pulp and paper, textiles, soaps and water treatment. That mismatch is why the market behaves the way it does.

Downward pressure

  • Asian oversupply: high Chinese chlor-alkali operating rates keep spot levels capped
  • Weaker alumina refining demand, including permanent refinery closures in Australia
  • Pulp and paper mill closures and curtailments in North America through 2025–2026
  • New Indian capacity from recent chlor-alkali expansions

Upward pressure

  • Electricity is 40–60% of chlor-alkali production cost, so power tariffs feed straight through
  • European chlor-alkali site closures since 2025 leave that market balanced but fragile
  • Dangerous-goods handling adds roughly 15–30% over ordinary freight and is not easing
  • Steady water treatment, textile and soap demand growth in Africa and South Asia

What to watch in Q4

  • Whether weak PVC margins force real chlor-alkali rate cuts rather than paper ones
  • Alumina restarts or further closures — the single biggest demand swing factor
  • Container availability for IMDG Class 8 on Gulf–West Africa lanes
  • Regional power tariffs going into the northern winter
Why buy from Jebel Ali or Mersin rather than direct from China? Chinese FOB numbers can look $150–200/MT cheaper on paper, but the delivered comparison changes once you add 30–45 day transit against 3–16 days from the Gulf or Turkey, more working capital tied up in transit, letter-of-credit and re-routing risk, and destination restrictions on some Chinese-origin chemical shipments. For buyers running 1–3 containers at a time, these origins trade a modest FOB premium for short lead times, DG-compliant packing and documentation that clears without argument. More about how we work →
Methodology

How these caustic soda prices are assessed

Transparency matters when a number goes straight into your costing sheet. Here is exactly what these figures represent.

Source of the numbers

Ranges are built from SUHA International Trading's own confirmed offers and concluded export business out of Jebel Ali and Mersin during the current month, then cross-checked against published regional indices.

What is included

FOB at the named loading port, DG port handling for IMDG Class 8, export packing as stated, and the standard document set: invoice, packing list, B/L, COA, MSDS and certificate of origin.

What is not included

Ocean freight and marine insurance (unless CIF), destination terminal handling, import duty, VAT, inland delivery, demurrage, and any third-party inspection you order.

Update cycle

Reviewed at the start of each month and whenever the market moves more than about 3%. Last review: . Issued quotes are firm for 7 days, subject to stock.

H2 2026 outlook

Caustic soda price forecast for Q3–Q4 2026

Projected FOB bands for the rest of 2026. Asian oversupply and soft alumina and pulp demand cap the upside; power costs, European closures and firm DG freight limit the downside. Treat these as planning ranges, not guarantees.

Flakes 98% FOB
680–750
USD/MT
→ Range-bound
Pearls 99% FOB
545–630
USD/MT
→ Stable
Liquid NaOH FOB
265–345
USD/MT
↓ Soft, supply-led
CIF Africa, flakes
725–905
USD/MT
▲ Freight-dependent

Procurement note: with the market range-bound rather than trending, buyers taking regular volume usually do better covering 50–60% on a quarterly contract and leaving the balance to spot, instead of trying to time a bottom.

Explore

Specifications, packing details and industry guides for every grade we load from Jebel Ali and Mersin.

Products & grades

Caustic Soda (NaOH)Main product hub — properties, grades and supply Caustic Soda Flakes98–99% flakes, 25 kg PP and jumbo bags Caustic Soda Pearls99% prilled pearls, low-dust handling Liquid Caustic Soda30–50% solution in flexitank or ISO tank Soda Ash (Na₂CO₃)Light and dense grades — frequent co-shipment Sodium HypochloriteChlor-alkali derivative for water treatment Calcium HypochloriteGranular and tablet disinfection grades Sodium SulfideFlakes for tanning, mining and pulp

Uses & industry guides

Soap & detergent makingSaponification, safety and bulk supply Mining & mineral processingpH control, flotation and the Bayer process Metal processingDegreasing, etching and surface treatment Food productionPeeling, curing and food-grade NaOH Biodiesel productionTransesterification catalyst, 2026 guide Cosmetics & personal carepH adjustment and safety limits AgricultureSoil pH, fertiliser blending and sanitation Storage & handling safetyTanks, PPE, spill control and shelf life
Common questions

Caustic soda price FAQ

The questions buyers and search engines ask most about NaOH pricing, packing, classification and shipping.

As of : $685–735/MT for flakes (NaOH 98%), $550–620/MT for pearls (NaOH 99%), and $270–340/MT for liquid caustic soda (30–50%). All FOB Jebel Ali (UAE) and Mersin (Turkey), including dangerous-goods port handling.

Industrial caustic soda is sold by the metric ton. At August 2026 export levels that is roughly $0.69–0.74/kg for flakes 98%, $0.55–0.62/kg for pearls 99%, and $0.27–0.34/kg for liquid NaOH. Retail and small-pack prices run several times higher because they carry repacking, retail margin and small-quantity handling.

At current export levels a 25 kg bag of flakes 98% works out to roughly $17.10–18.40 FOB, and a bag of pearls 99% to about $13.75–15.50. Bags are not sold individually for export — the minimum is a full container of 20–24 MT, which is 800–960 bags.

Pearls are currently cheaper — $550–620/MT against $685–735/MT for flakes — even though pearls are the higher-purity grade. The gap reflects prilling-tower economics and origin mix, not quality. In other markets the ranking reverses, so compare live quotes rather than assuming.

Per ton of product, yes. Per ton of actual NaOH, no. A 50% solution is half water, so $305/MT of solution is about $610 per MT of contained NaOH — before you pay freight on that water. Flakes usually win beyond roughly 1,000 km inland; liquid wins when you are near the port with tanks and dosing already in place.

About 24 MT of flakes in 25 kg PP bags (960 bags, typically on 24 pallets), 20–23 MT of pearls, and 20–24 MT of liquid NaOH in a flexitank. The binding limit is payload weight, not volume — and several destination ports enforce road weight limits below the container maximum, so confirm before booking.

Solid sodium hydroxide — flakes, pearls, prills and pellets — is HS 2815.11. Sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution, known as soda lye, is HS 2815.12. Many countries add national digits after the six-digit heading, so check your own tariff schedule before filing the entry.

We expect Q3–Q4 2026 to stay range-bound: flakes 98% at $680–750/MT, pearls 99% at $545–630/MT and liquid NaOH at $265–345/MT FOB. Asian oversupply plus softer alumina and pulp offtake cap the upside, while electricity costs, European plant closures and firm DG freight put a floor under the market.

Electricity is 40–60% of chlor-alkali production cost, so power tariffs move NaOH directly. Dangerous-goods classification then adds roughly 15–30% over ordinary freight, and import-dependent markets pay duty and local distribution on top. That is how a landed price inland in Africa can be close to double the Asian FOB assessment for the same product.

By lane: Jebel Ali → Mombasa about $70–90/MT, Jebel Ali → Colombo $60–80/MT, Mersin → Lagos $130–170/MT. Figures are for one 20' FCL of 20–24 MT and exclude destination terminal handling, duty and inland delivery.

FOB (Free On Board) — our cost and risk end once the cargo is loaded at origin, and you arrange the ocean freight. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) — we pay freight and marine insurance to your destination port. FOB gives you freight control and visibility; CIF gives you one landed number to budget against.

One 20' FCL: 24 MT for flakes in 25 kg PP bags, 20 MT for pearls, 20 MT for liquid in flexitank or ISO tank. Buyers taking three or more containers per shipment, or committing to quarterly volume, generally price at the lower end of each range.

The standard export set: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of analysis, MSDS, certificate of origin, and the Dangerous Goods Declaration required for IMDG Class 8 cargo. Third-party inspection by SGS or Bureau Veritas and legalised documents can be arranged where the destination requires them.

Yes — all three names mean NaOH. Caustic soda is the industrial trade name, sodium hydroxide is the chemical name used on documents and safety data sheets, and lye is the common name in soap making and food contexts. Flakes, pearls, prills, pellets and 30–50% solution are just physical forms of the same compound.

Yes. Solid caustic soda is UN 1823, liquid is UN 1824, both IMDG Class 8 (corrosive). It needs compliant packaging, corrosive labelling, a Dangerous Goods Declaration and an MSDS. Carriers charge a DG surcharge — typically 15–30% over comparable non-hazardous freight — and it is already inside the FOB prices above. See also our guide to safe storage and handling.

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