Burns, blindness and Europe's growing import reliance
Burns, blindness and Europe's growing import reliance What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.
Hazards
Classification
UN number
Key risks
Skin Corr. 1A; Eye Dam. 1; Met. Corr. 1
UN1824 (solution); UN1823 (solid)
Causes severe burns and blindness; dissolving solid caustic releases heat; reacts with aluminium to release hydrogen.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
EU
REACH; CLP; chlor-alkali BAT conclusions
governs plant permits; possible anti-dumping duties on US imports (Argus Nov 2025)
US
EPA asbestos rule for diaphragm cells (2029/2036)
closure of diaphragm capacity
Mexico
import duty of $195/dmt on US Gulf caustic
reroutes US exports
India
Rule
Effect
BIS Quality Control Order for caustic soda (IS 252), in force since 2022 (indicative)
imports need BIS certification, which restrains low-quality imports
MSIHC Rules 1989
storage and handling licences
Trade measures
Mexico duty $195/dmt on US caustic
US tariffs blocking over 350,000 dmt/yr from NE Asia to the US West Coast (Argus Nov 2025)
Possible EU anti-dumping case on US caustic
Supply risk
Supply is diverse but tied to chlorine demand and power prices. Not on critical lists. Europe's closures increase import reliance on the US.