Industrial salts and alkalis
Sodium Carbonate 99% — Industrial Na₂CO₃ for Glass, Textiles & Water Treatment
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 180–220 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) — known commercially as soda ash — ranks among the most traded inorganic alkalis worldwide. Our export grade at 99% Na₂CO₃ minimum supplies the broad industrial market where buyers need reliable carbonate alkalinity without the handling hazards of concentrated caustic soda. The white crystalline powder dissolves in water to form a moderately alkaline solution, making it the standard pH regulator for municipal water softening, textile scouring baths, and batch glass formulations where controlled alkali release protects furnace refractories.
Key consumption channels span float and container glass furnaces using Na₂CO₃ as a flux to reduce silica melting point, synthetic detergent and soap plants building phosphate-free formulations with carbonate builders, pulp and paper mills adjusting pulping liquor chemistry, metal-finishing shops degreasing and pickling steel surfaces, and chemical manufacturers converting sodium carbonate into sodium silicate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium dichromate and other downstream salts. Typical importers are regional glass producers on quarterly contract cover, detergent compounders between captive plant turnarounds, textile mills in South and Southeast Asia, and commodity traders stocking alkali ahead of construction-season demand.
Material is sourced from integrated Solvay-process plants at Black Sea and MENA chemical hubs with established bulk terminals and container stuffing facilities. Light and dense soda ash grades are available on request for buyers with specific particle-size or bulk-density requirements. HS code 2836.20. MOQ from 500 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| Na₂CO₃ content | 99% min |
| Total alkalinity (as Na₂CO₃) | 58.5% min |
| Chloride (NaCl) | 0.8% max |
| Iron (Fe₂O₃) | 0.005% max |
| Water insoluble matter | 0.05% max |
| Sulphate (SO₄) | 0.04% max |
| Loss on ignition | 0.8% max |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder, free-flowing |
| Grade | Industrial sodium carbonate |
| HS code | 2836.20 |
Loading ports & logistics
Sodium carbonate is a dry, hygroscopic solid that must remain protected from rain and seawater spray throughout the logistics chain. We coordinate delivery modes based on parcel size and receiver infrastructure.
Geared bulk carriers load parcels of 3,000–25,000 MT at dedicated soda ash berths on FOB Black Sea and MENA origins. Pneumatic or grab discharge at destination requires covered silos — open stockpiles cause rapid caking and quality degradation when moisture is absorbed.
1-tonne PP big bags in 20-foot containers hold approximately 20–24 MT net per unit and suit mid-size buyers without deep-water bulk terminals. Bags are palletized, stretch-wrapped and desiccant-lined for the sea leg. Suitable for parcels of 500–2,500 MT assembled across multiple container bookings on FOB or CFR terms.
Break-bulk coaster vessels move 500–3,000 MT big-bag parcels on short-sea routes to Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean discharge ports with geared crane facilities. CFR and CIF quotes include vessel freight, marine insurance and discharge-port weather-protection assessment. Typical lead time 12–22 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as bulk sodium carbonate in vessel holds, 1-tonne laminated PP big bags with polyethylene inner liner, or 25 kg and 50 kg woven bags palletized for container export. Each lot includes a mill certificate of analysis confirming Na₂CO₃, chloride, iron and water-insoluble results, safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin. Alkali content is verified by acidimetric titration against a hydrochloric acid standard on the COA.
Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. Big-bag integrity and moisture-content checks are included in the standard inspection scope for containerized shipments. Stowage instructions accompany every shipment — sodium carbonate is non-hazardous but hygroscopic and requires dry-hold certification on bulk vessels.
FAQ
How does sodium carbonate differ from caustic soda in industrial applications?
Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is a weaker alkali that releases hydroxide ions gradually in water, making it safer to handle in open batch systems and suitable for pH adjustment where a buffered rise is needed. Caustic soda (NaOH) delivers immediate high alkalinity and is preferred for alumina digestion, pulp bleaching and saponification where rapid pH shift is required. Many plants use sodium carbonate as a lower-cost alkali source for water softening, glass batching and detergent builders where extreme pH is unnecessary.
What packaging formats are available for sodium carbonate export?
We supply sodium carbonate as untagged bulk in vessel holds for parcels above 3,000 MT, in 1-tonne laminated PP big bags for container and break-bulk shipments of 500–2,500 MT, and in 25 kg or 50 kg woven bags palletized for smaller container lots. All bagged grades include polyethylene inner liners and desiccant sachets to limit moisture uptake during transit. Buyer-specified labelling and UN-style markings can be applied on request.
Which sectors drive bulk sodium carbonate import demand?
Flat and container glass producers account for the largest single consumption block, using Na₂CO₃ as a flux to lower silica melting temperature. Synthetic detergent and soap manufacturers, textile scouring and dyeing mills, pulp and paper pulping liquor adjustment, municipal water-treatment plants precipitating calcium hardness, and chemical producers converting carbonate into sodium silicate, bicarbonate and chromate salts round out the main buyer segments. Regional traders building inventory ahead of construction-season glass demand are also steady importers on FOB and CFR terms.
Related products
- Soda Ash Light — fast-dissolving low-density Na₂CO₃ for detergent slurries and batch reactors
- Soda Ash Dense — high bulk-density grade for glass furnace silos and pneumatic conveying
- Sodium Bicarbonate — downstream carbonate salt for food, pharma and flue-gas treatment