# Caustic soda: Trading

Why prices are quoted per dry tonne

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/trading/

What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.

#### Who buys, and where

- US Gulf, NE Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan) and Middle East exporters; Indian domestic producers

#### Who sells, and from where

- Alumina refineries (Australia, Brazil, India), pulp mills (Brazil, Indonesia), and chemical users in Latin America, Africa and South-East Asia

#### Price benchmarks

| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| **Caustic soda fob USGC export** | Argus | weekly, $/dmt |
| **Caustic soda fob NE Asia** | Argus; ICIS | weekly, $/dmt |
| **Caustic soda contract fd NW Europe** | Argus | quarterly, EUR/dmt |
| **China 32% and 50% ex-works** | Argus; Mysteel | daily/weekly, Yn/t |

#### Exchanges

| Venue | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange** | caustic soda futures (32% liquid caustic) | launched 2023 (indicative); used by Chinese producers and alumina buyers |

#### Contract types

- Quarterly and monthly contracts for 50% lye
- Spot cargoes of 10,000-40,000 t
- Formula contracts linked to Argus/ICIS indices for alumina refiners

#### Traders and distributors

- Producers' own trading arms (OxyChem, Olin, Formosa)
- Chemical distributors such as Univar and Brenntag (indicative)

#### How Indian buyers price it

- Producer ex-works price in Rs/dmt, set close to import parity (CFR India plus duty)
- Gujarat (Dahej) price is the reference
- Chlorine realisations are netted in ECU terms

#### Recent price points

| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | **$0.411/kg** | Dahej domestic bulk | Alchempro 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | **Rs 35,000-36,000/dmt (about $399/dmt)** | India domestic ex-works, excluding tax | Argus, 3 Oct 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | **$380-393/dmt** | fob NE Asia | Argus, 3 Oct 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | **$390-440/dmt** | fob USGC export | Argus, 3 Oct 2025 |
| Mar 2026 (forecast) | **$425/dmt** | fob USGC | Argus Chlor-Alkali Outlook Nov 2025 |

#### Good sources to follow
[Argus Chlor-Alkali and Derivatives](https://view.argusmedia.com/rs/584-BUW-606/images/CHE-Sample-Report-Argus%20Chlor-Alkali%20and%20Derivatives%20%282025-10-03%29.pdf?version=0)paid newsletter · Argus Media

weekly caustic prices worldwide
[Euro Chlor](https://www.eurochlor.org)free research site · Cefic sector group

European production, caustic stocks, eco-profiles
[Alchempro industry articles](https://www.alchempro.com/industry-article/10874/caustic-soda-market-and-prices-report)free blog · Alchempro

Indian caustic capacity and prices
[Mysteel](https://www.mysteel.net)freemium research site · Mysteel

China caustic capacity and output

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/cycles/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caustic_soda/links/index.md)