Other acids
Hydrochloric Acid 31–33% — Industrial Grade for Pickling & Acidizing
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 82–100 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Hydrochloric acid is a cornerstone inorganic reagent produced as a co-product at chlor-alkali electrolysis plants and consumed across steel finishing, upstream oil and gas stimulation, municipal water treatment and chemical synthesis. Our export grade at 31–33% HCl delivers the concentration balance most buyers prefer: high enough for efficient tank transport, low enough to remain below the critical corrosion threshold for rubber-lined ISO equipment at ambient temperature.
Iron capped at 5 ppm suits acidizing formulations where dissolved iron precipitates in sandstone pores and reduces well productivity. Free chlorine below 0.5 ppm prevents secondary corrosion of downhole tubulars during extended contact time. Origins include integrated chemical complexes in the Black Sea basin, North Africa and the Arabian Gulf with established acid loading jetties and ISO tank filling stations.
Typical buyer segments include hot-rolled coil pickling lines diluting merchant acid to 15–20% working baths, oilfield service companies staging acidizing campaigns in carbonate and sandstone formations, water-treatment plants adjusting alkalinity, and chemical manufacturers converting HCl into metal chlorides and organic intermediates. HS code 2806.10.
Full specification
| HCl (hydrochloric acid) | 31.0–33.0% |
| Iron (Fe) | 5 ppm max |
| Free chlorine (Cl₂) | 0.5 ppm max |
| Sulphates (SO₄) | 0.01% max |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | 1 ppm max |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid |
| Density (at 32% HCl, 20 °C) | 1.15–1.16 g/cm³ |
| pH (as supplied) | < 1 |
| HS code | 2806.10 |
Loading ports & logistics
Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive Class 8 dangerous good — every handling stage from plant loading arm to receiver tank must use acid-compatible materials. We arrange delivery in three principal modes matched to parcel size and discharge infrastructure.
Rubber-lined ISO tank containers carry 20–24 MT per unit and suit multi-modal routes to inland steel mills and chemical plants with dedicated acid unloading bays. Standard for FOB parcels of 100–500 MT assembled from multiple tank units at Black Sea and MENA origins.
Dedicated HCl road tankers and coastal chemical barges move 500–2,000 MT on short-sea routes between chlor-alkali plants and Mediterranean or Red Sea discharge terminals. Rubber-lined or PVDF-lined cargo tanks are mandatory; venting systems must handle hydrogen gas evolution during warm-weather storage.
Rubber-lined parcel tankers handle contracts above 2,000 MT to dedicated acid jetties in India, Turkey and West Africa. FOB loading at exporter-nominated berth; CFR and CIF quotes include tank freight, marine insurance and discharge-port compatibility verification. Typical lead time 10–20 days from contract to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as liquid HCl in rubber-lined ISO tank containers, dedicated acid road tankers or rubber-lined chemical tankers — bulk merchant grade is not offered in drums or IBCs. Each lot includes a mill certificate of analysis showing HCl titre, iron, free chlorine and sulphate results, safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS Class 8 corrosive, commercial invoice, tank list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Concentration is confirmed by acid-base titration against standardized NaOH on the COA, cross-checked by density measurement at 20 °C. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. Tank previous-cargo and cleanliness certificates are mandatory before ISO reload.
FAQ
Which HCl concentration suits steel pickling versus oilfield acidizing?
Steel pickling lines typically dilute 31–33% merchant acid to 15–20% working concentration in continuous bath circuits. Oilfield stimulation jobs use 28–32% acid with iron below 5 ppm to prevent formation plugging in sandstone reservoirs — specify the application on your enquiry for grade confirmation.
What tank materials are approved for bulk hydrochloric acid transport?
Rubber-lined carbon steel ISO tanks and dedicated HCl road tankers are standard for 31–33% acid. Unlined carbon steel corrodes rapidly in dilute HCl below 20% concentration — never store weakened acid in bare steel without a protective lining assessment.
What factors influence the indicative hydrochloric acid price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect chlorine and hydrogen feedstock costs at integrated chlor-alkali plants, seasonal demand from steel mills and oilfield campaigns, and ISO tank freight to your discharge port. The USD 82–100/MT band covers current origin and purity differentials; firm pricing is confirmed at contract signing.
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- Nitric Acid — oxidizing acid for nitration and stainless pickling
- Phosphoric Acid — downstream phosphate intermediate from sulfuric acid route