Globally exported salt increased in value by an average 19.1% from five years earlier in 2019 when export sales for salt were worth $2.85 billion.
Year over year, the dollar value of exported salt flatlined via a 1% upturn compared to $3.36 billion for 2022.
Comprised mainly of sodium chloride, salt is a mineral with many uses. Only about 6% of manufactured salt is used in food. Salt is an important ingredient for water conditioning processes, road and sidewalk de-icing and agricultural applications. Salt is also used to create soap, aluminum, paper pulp, synthetic rubber and pottery glazing.
Key Geographic Insights for Salt Exports & Imports
By value, the 5 biggest exporters of salt are the Netherlands, Germany, India, United States of America, then Chile. Combined, that quintet of major suppliers generated 45.5% of all international salt exported during 2023.
From a continental perspective, sources in Europe supplied the highest dollar worth of exported salt during 2023 with shipments valued at $1.6 billion or 47.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (22.8%) trailed by providers in North America (13.2%). Smaller percentages originated from Latin America (8.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (8.1%) and Oceania (0.5%) mostly New Zealand.
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading buyers of salt in 2023 are the United States of America, mainland China, Japan, Germany and South Korea. Collectively, that subgroup of top import countries bought 38.6% of globally imported salt as measured by dollar value.
Those percentages suggest the total 159 salt exporters (45.5% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is more concentrated compared to 220 importing countries, islands and territories. As specified in the above paragraph, the top 5 importers consumed a lower percentage at 38.6%.
As for imports of salt by continent, 38.7% of salt purchases was delivered to customers in Europe. Trailing buyers in Europe were importers in Asia (32.6%), North America (18.2%), Africa (5.6%), Latin America (3.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 250100 for salts including table salt, denatured salt and pure sodium chloride.
Top Salt Exports by Country
Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of salt during 2023.
- Netherlands: US$403.1 million (11.9% of total salt exports)
- Germany: $369.6 million (10.9%)
- India: $333.4 million (9.8%)
- United States: $258.2 million (7.6%)
- Chile: $181.9 million (5.4%)
- Spain: $162.5 million (4.8%)
- Canada: $154.6 million (4.6%)
- mainland China: $130.2 million (3.8%)
- Belgium: $127.4 million (3.8%)
- United Kingdom: $84.1 million (2.5%)
- Türkiye: $71.9 million (2.1%)
- Denmark: $71.7 million (2.1%)
- France: $71.2 million (2.1%)
- Egypt: $63.3 million (1.9%)
- Pakistan: $52.7 million (1.6%)
- Romania: $49 million (1.4%)
- Poland: $48.1 million (1.4%)
- Italy: $44.9 million (1.3%)
- Kenya: $41.4 million (1.2%)
- Bahamas: $38.7 million (1.1%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 81.2% of globally exported salt in 2023.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing salt exporters since 2022 were: Türkiye (up 11.8%), Kenya (up 9%), Denmark (up 7.8%) and India (up 6.9%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported salt sales were led by: Pakistan (down -23.9% from 2022), Canada (down -20.5%), Romania (down -16.7%), United Kingdom (down -11%) and mainland China (down -9%).
Top Salt Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported salt was $5.16 billion. That dollar metric rose by 18.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2019 but fell by -3.6% year over year compared to 2022.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of salt imported during 2023.
- United States: US$687.7 million (13.5% of total salt imports)
- mainland China: $453 million (8.9%)
- Japan: $315.7 million (6.2%)
- Germany: $257.4 million (5.1%)
- South Korea: $247.3 million (4.9%)
- Canada: $216.3 million (4.3%)
- Belgium: $207.1 million (4.1%)
- Taiwan: $147.9 million (2.9%)
- United Kingdom: $136.2 million (2.7%)
- Indonesia: $135.4 million (2.7%)
- France: $135 million (2.7%)
- Norway: $111.4 million (2.2%)
- Ukraine: $109.5 million (2.2%)
- Italy: $85.7 million (1.7%)
- Netherlands: $82.5 million (1.6%)
- Czech Republic: $79.9 million (1.6%)
- Brazil: $75.9 million (1.5%)
- Poland: $67.7 million (1.3%)
- Sweden: $65.8 million (1.3%)
- Ireland: $64.3 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 72.5% of globally imported salt in 2023.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing salt importers since 2021 were: Canada (up 42.1%), Ireland (up 26.9%), United Kingdom (up 21.6%) and France (up 20.1%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported salt purchases were led by: mainland China (down -19.2% from 2022), United States of America (down -15.8%), Germany (down -11.3%), Japan (down -9.2%) and Sweden (down -2.6%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Salt
We calculated the world’s average unit price for globally imported salt to be $71.40 per ton in 2023. That dollar amount reflects a flatlining -0.09% downtick from the average tonnage rate of $72 for 2022.
The average tonnage charge of $44 for the number one salt importer, United States of America, was lower than the world average of $71.40 in 2023.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported salt in 2023.
- Djibouti: US$0.94 per ton (up 123.8% from 2021
- Cameroon: $13 per ton (down -45.8%)
- US Minor Outlying Islands: $27 per ton (down -81.9%)
- Bangladesh: $28 per ton (down -9.7%)
- Qatar: $30 per ton (down -36.2%)
- Afghanistan: $33 per ton (up 6.5%)
- Oman: $35 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Paraguay: $38 per ton (down -7.3%)
- Brazil: $40 per ton (up 11.1%)
- Togo: $40 per ton (down -20%)
- South Africa: $43 per ton (down -2.3%)
- United States: $44 per ton (down -12%)
- Vietnam: $44 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Russia: $46 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Indonesia: $48 per ton (up 6.7%)
Experiencing double-digit percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for salt from were low-cost importers United States Minor Outlying Islands (down -81.9% from 2022), Cameroon (down -45.8%), Qatar (down -36.2%), Togo (down -20%) then the United States of America (down -12%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported salt.
- Cayman Islands: US$1,878 per ton (up 4.3% from 2021
- Aruba: $1,710 per ton (down -4.9%)
- Montserrat: $1,667 per ton (up 11.1%)
- Antigua and Barbuda: $1,549 per ton (down -10.7%)
- Northern Mariana Islands: $1,500 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Bermuda: $1,285 per ton (down -8.3%)
- Switzerland: $1,227 per ton (up 24.6%)
- Saint Helena: $1,154 per ton (up 24.2%)
- Madagascar: $1,130 per ton (up 8.9%)
- French Polynesia: $1,088 per ton (up 20.6%)
- British Virgin Islands: $1,016 per ton (down -36%)
- Norfolk Island: $1,000 per ton (down -50%)
- Tokelau: $1,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Wallis and Futuna Islands: $905 per ton (up 22.8%)
- Niue: $750 per ton (up 25%)
The strongest percentage increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2023 compared to 2022 were experienced by salt importers in Niue (up 25%), Switzerland (up 24.6%), Saint Helena (up 24.2%), Wallis and Futuna Islands (up 22.8%) then French Polynesia (up 20.6%).
See also Top Black Pepper Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Sugar Exports by Country, Top Sweet Pepper and Chili Pepper Exporters, Top Garlic Exports by Country, Onions Exports by Country, Top Pickles Exporters by Country and Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Salt Showroom. Accessed on August 27, 2024
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 27, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 27, 2024
Wikipedia, Salt. Accessed on August 27, 2024