Industrial salts and alkalis
Sodium Chloride Industrial 98.5% — Bulk Salt for Chlor-Alkali & Process Industries
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 33–40 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Industrial sodium chloride is the foundational feedstock of the chlor-alkali chain — every tonne of chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen produced by membrane or diaphragm electrolysis starts as purified brine from solar-evaporated or rock-mined NaCl. Our export grade at 98.5% minimum NaCl with controlled calcium and magnesium levels meets the brine purification requirements of modern membrane cell plants without excessive chemical treatment cost at the receiver.
Beyond chlor-alkali, industrial salt serves oilfield drilling and completion fluids where saturated brine controls shale swelling, water-softening ion-exchange regeneration cycles, leather tanning and textile dyeing baths, ceramic glaze preparation, and municipal de-icing stockpiles. White crystalline appearance and low insoluble fraction confirm mechanical washing and screening at origin — critical for buyers running continuous brine dissolving systems where sediment would choke heat exchangers and clarification filters.
Supply originates from solar evaporation ponds and underground rock-salt mines at Black Sea and MENA complexes with conveyor-linked bulk loading berths. Typical buyers include chlor-alkali producers topping up merchant salt when own evaporation harvest falls short, oilfield service companies building seasonal brine inventory, water-treatment distributors supplying regeneration salt to ion-exchange plants, and industrial processors on annual framework contracts. HS code 2501.00. MOQ from 1,000 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| NaCl (sodium chloride) | 98.5% min |
| Moisture | 1.5% max |
| Insoluble matter | 0.3% max |
| Calcium (Ca) | 0.15% max |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.05% max |
| Sulphate (SO₄) | 0.3% max |
| Particle size | 0.1–5 mm (industrial grade, 90% retained on 0.1 mm sieve) |
| Appearance | White crystalline, free-flowing |
| Bulk density | ≈ 1.15–1.25 t/m³ (loose) |
| HS code | 2501.00 |
Loading ports & logistics
Industrial salt is a high-volume, low-unit-value bulk commodity — ocean freight efficiency and discharge-port draft determine delivered cost more than any other factor. We coordinate three principal delivery modes depending on parcel size and receiver infrastructure.
Geared bulk carriers handle parcels from 1,000 MT minimum up to 8,000 MT on FOB Black Sea and MENA origins. Conveyor or grab loading at dedicated salt berths; vessel must present clean, dry holds with hatch covers watertight. Ideal for chlor-alkali plants with own jetty or transhipment to barge at discharge.
Self-discharging bulk vessels move 5,000–15,000 MT parcels on medium-haul routes to Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean terminals. Belt-unloader or pneumatic discharge equipment at the destination reduces stevedoring cost versus grab discharge — confirm your berth equipment before firm offer.
Handymax and panamax bulk carriers serve annual framework contracts above 15,000 MT on long-haul routes to dedicated salt-import terminals in India, Turkey and Southeast Asia. FOB loading at exporter-nominated berth; CFR and CIF quotes include vessel freight, marine insurance and discharge-port draft confirmation. Typical lead time 12–25 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as loose bulk in vessel holds — no bagged form for merchant industrial grade at ocean-parcel scale. Smaller lots (below 1,000 MT) can be supplied in 1 MT big bags or 50 kg PP woven sacks on buyer request at adjusted unit pricing. Each lot is accompanied by a mill certificate of analysis showing NaCl, moisture, insoluble matter, calcium and magnesium results, safety data sheet (SDS), commercial invoice, weight certificate, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading — hold cleanliness survey, draft survey and representative sampling — can be arranged on buyer request. Hold cleanliness certificate confirming no previous incompatible cargo is mandatory before vessel nomination; we issue loading instructions and stowage plan with the shipping documentation package.
FAQ
What NaCl purity do membrane chlor-alkali plants require?
Membrane electrolysis lines typically specify 98.5% NaCl minimum with calcium below 0.15% and magnesium below 0.05% to protect ion-exchange membranes and extend cell life. Higher insoluble fractions accelerate brine clarification filter cycles — confirm your plant's brine specification sheet before ordering.
How is industrial salt shipped on bulk ocean routes?
Industrial NaCl moves in geared bulk carriers or self-discharging vessels from 1,000 MT minimum up to 25,000 MT handymax parcels. FOB loading uses conveyor or grab discharge at dedicated salt berths; CFR and CIF quotes include vessel freight, marine insurance and discharge-port draft confirmation.
What drives the indicative industrial salt price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect solar-evaporation harvest yields at Black Sea and MENA origins, moisture and insoluble content, vessel freight to your discharge port, and seasonal demand from chlor-alkali and de-icing buyers. The USD 33–40/MT band covers current purity and origin differentials; firm pricing is fixed at contract signing.
Related products
- Hydrochloric Acid — downstream chlor-alkali product from electrolytic brine
- Potassium Hydroxide — companion industrial alkali for process chemistry
- Sulfuric Acid — industrial acid for water treatment and chemical manufacturing