Other acids
Formic Acid 85–99% — Organic Acid for Tanning, Silage & Latex
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 410–500 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid in industrial trade — a colourless, pungent liquid produced by catalytic carbonylation of methanol or as a co-product at oxo-alcohol complexes. Merchant grades at 85–99% HCOOH serve leather beamhouse deliming and pickling, silage and forage preservation, natural rubber latex coagulation, textile dyeing pH control, and oilfield stimulation where low-residue organic acid is preferred over mineral alternatives.
Our export specification caps iron at 5 ppm and chlorides at 10 ppm — low enough for white-leather tanning and pharmaceutical intermediate routes where metal ions cause staining or catalyst poisoning. Sulphates held below 50 ppm protect downstream esterification and amidation steps. Origins include integrated chemical plants in the Black Sea basin, Central Europe and MENA with dedicated organic-acid loading bays and stainless ISO tank filling lines.
Typical buyers include tanneries replacing sulphuric acid in deliming to reduce salt effluent, compound feed manufacturers blending silage additives ahead of harvest season, rubber processors coagulating field latex at plantation sites, and chemical producers converting HCOOH into formate salts, dimethylformamide precursors and ester solvents. HS code 2915.11. MOQ from 100 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| HCOOH (formic acid) | 85–99% (buyer-specified grade) |
| Water | Balance (grade-dependent) |
| Iron (Fe) | 5 ppm max |
| Chlorides (Cl) | 10 ppm max |
| Sulphates (SO₄) | 50 ppm max |
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Density (at 85% HCOOH) | ≈ 1.20 g/cm³ |
| UN number | 1779 (formic acid, with not less than 10% but not more than 90% acid) |
| HS code | 2915.11 |
Loading ports & logistics
Formic acid requires corrosion-resistant handling at every transfer point — bare carbon steel and aluminium equipment are unsuitable for merchant concentrations. We coordinate three principal delivery modes depending on parcel size and receiver infrastructure.
316L stainless steel ISO tank containers hold approximately 20–24 MT net per unit and suit multi-modal routes to tanneries, feed mills and rubber factories with dedicated acid unloading bays. Ideal for parcels of 100–500 MT assembled from multiple tank units on FOB Black Sea or MENA origins.
Dedicated stainless acid tank trucks and coastal chemical tankers move parcels of 500–1,500 MT on short-sea routes between integrated oxo-alcohol complexes and Mediterranean or Red Sea discharge terminals. Tank passivation after each discharge cycle restores the protective oxide layer on stainless walls.
Stainless-lined parcel tankers handle larger industrial contracts above 1,500 MT on long-haul routes to dedicated organic-acid jetties in India, Turkey and Southeast Asia. FOB loading at exporter-nominated berth; CFR and CIF quotes include tank freight, marine insurance and discharge-port compatibility check before firm offer. Typical lead time 10–20 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as liquid HCOOH in 316L stainless ISO tank containers, dedicated acid road tankers or stainless-lined chemical tankers — bulk merchant grade only; drummed supply is available on separate inquiry for sub-100 MT parcels. Each lot is accompanied by a mill certificate of analysis showing HCOOH concentration, iron, chloride and sulphate results, safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS with corrosive hazard classification, commercial invoice, tank list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Concentration is confirmed by acid-base titration against sodium hydroxide standard on the COA, with density cross-check via calibrated hydrometer. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. Tank cleanliness certificate and previous-cargo confirmation are mandatory before ISO reload; IMO dangerous goods declaration and emergency response guide references are included for Class 8 corrosive carriage.
FAQ
Which formic acid concentration suits leather tanning versus silage treatment?
Leather beamhouse operations typically use 85–94% HCOOH diluted to 2–5% working baths for deliming and pickling. Silage and animal-feed applications prefer 85% grade with controlled water content for safe on-farm dilution. High-purity 99% acid suits rubber latex coagulation and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis where low chloride and sulphate levels are critical.
What tank materials are approved for bulk formic acid transport?
Stainless steel 316L ISO tank containers and dedicated acid road tankers are standard for 85–99% formic acid. Aluminium and unlined carbon steel are not suitable — formic acid attacks bare steel and aluminium alloys at merchant concentrations. Tanks must be cleaned and passivated after each cycle; previous-cargo documentation is mandatory before reload.
What drives the indicative formic acid price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect methanol and carbon monoxide feedstock costs at integrated oxo-alcohol plants, HCOOH concentration requested, and ISO tank freight to your discharge port. The USD 410–500/MT band covers current grade and origin differentials between 85% industrial and 99% high-purity merchant acid; firm pricing is fixed at contract signing.
Related products
- Methanol — primary feedstock for catalytic formic acid synthesis
- Sulfuric Acid — mineral acid alternative in tanning and chemical circuits
- Nitric Acid — companion oxidizer acid for nitration and metal treatment