Caustic soda looks the same from every supplier: white flakes in a 25 kg bag. The differences are in purity, how the product was stored, the paperwork, and whether the stock is actually there when you need it. This checklist helps procurement and plant teams in the UAE compare caustic soda suppliers on more than the price per kg.
1. Purity you can verify
Ask for the certificate of analysis (COA) for the batch, not a generic data sheet. For industrial flakes the headline figure is purity, which should be at least 99% NaOH. A good COA also lists the impurities with both the specification limit and the measured result, for example:
- Carbonate: maximum 2.0%. Higher carbonate means less active alkali per kg and often shows the product was exposed to air.
- Chloride (Cl): maximum 0.05%. Important where solutions contact stainless steel.
- Iron (Fe): maximum 0.005%. Matters for food, water treatment and colour-sensitive products.
- Sulphate, insoluble matter, heavy metals and arsenic: all should be listed with low limits.
If a supplier cannot produce a batch COA with a batch number that matches the bags, treat that as a warning sign.
2. A complete safety data sheet
The SDS should have all 16 sections, show the correct identifiers (CAS 1310-73-2, UN 1823, Class 8, Packing Group II) and name the supplier who is actually selling to you. Your HSE team needs it before the first delivery, so a supplier who sends it immediately saves you days.
3. Packaging and storage before it reaches you
Caustic soda absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air. Flakes that sat in a hot, humid yard in torn bags arrive caked and weaker. Ask how the stock is stored, and check on delivery that bags are intact, dry, clearly labelled with the corrosive hazard label and UN number, and free-flowing when opened.
4. Price transparency
Many suppliers only quote on request, which makes routine re-orders slow and comparisons hard. A supplier that publishes its price, with clear rates for different order sizes, lets you compare fairly and budget ahead. When you compare, always convert to the same basis: price per kg of product, ex-warehouse or delivered, with or without VAT.
5. Real stock and delivery terms
Ask where the stock is held and whether it is ready stock or still to be imported. A supplier holding ready stock close to your site can deliver quickly and cover a sudden shortage. Confirm the delivery area, the lead time after order confirmation, and whether you can collect from the warehouse with your own transport.
6. Paperwork for procurement
Check whether the supplier can give you a formal quotation with your company name and VAT details for internal approval, followed by a proforma invoice and a tax invoice. Missing paperwork is one of the most common causes of delayed orders.
7. Technical support
A good supplier can answer practical questions: what strength to use for cleaning-in-place, how to dissolve flakes safely, which tank materials to avoid, and how to neutralise spills. This matters more than a small difference in price.
How we do it
At DUBI CHEM we publish our caustic soda price for the UAE every working day, with the rates for small, standard and bulk orders, the SDS and a sample COA, and a downloadable PDF quotation. Caustic soda flakes 99% are held as ready stock in Al Hayl, Fujairah, for collection or delivery across the UAE with 48 to 72 hours' notice.
Quick checklist
| Check | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Purity | Minimum 99% NaOH, shown on a batch COA |
| Carbonate | 2.0% or lower |
| SDS | 16 sections, UN 1823, Class 8, PG II |
| Packing | Sealed, labelled 25 kg bags on pallets |
| Price | Published, with clear rates by order size |
| Stock | Ready stock held locally |
| Paperwork | Quotation, proforma and tax invoice |