U.S. exports of Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution (Caustic Soda Solution) (HS 281512) totaled $109.4M in August 2026.
Importers of Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution (Caustic Soda Solution) paid $1.1M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.64% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution (Caustic Soda Solution) imports of $14.6M in August 2026 ran 16% above the year-to-date monthly average of $12.6M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataLiquid caustic soda — typically traded at 50% NaOH concentration — is a co-product of chlorine production and moves in bulk tank cars, ISO tanks, and barges to end users in chemical manufacturing, textile processing, and water treatment. Classified under 2815120000, it competes directly with domestically produced solution, so import volumes tend to respond quickly to US chlor-alkali operating rates. Japan and Canada are the leading foreign suppliers, with South Korea also a notable source, reflecting Pacific Rim chlor-alkali capacity that can swing to export when domestic Asian demand softens.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
313 import shipments a month
Commercial caustic soda solution is most commonly traded at 50% NaOH by weight, though 32% and 73% (diaphragm-grade) concentrations also exist. All aqueous NaOH solutions fall under 2815120000 regardless of concentration; the specification matters for pricing, freight planning, and end-use compatibility, not for tariff classification.
Because caustic soda is produced jointly with chlorine in electrolysis cells, output cannot be adjusted independently. When US chlorine demand is high and domestic plants run at capacity, caustic supply is ample and imports are minimal; when chlorine demand softens and plants curtail, domestic caustic supply tightens and imports from Japan, Canada, and South Korea tend to increase to fill the gap.
Subheading 1 of 4 in heading 2815
Subheading 281512 · $109.4M of $119.5M
ImportsExports
Imports
$14.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$109.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $164.1M of Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution (Caustic Soda Solution) and exported $1.4B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2815120000 | Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution | $14.6M | 7.64% | 65.41% | $1.1M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2815120000 | Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution | $109.4M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Brazil and Finland together take 47% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
34.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 7.64% of imports for consumption.