Total salt exports increased in value by an average 9.9% from five years earlier in 2021 when export sales for salt were worth $2.23 billion.
Year over year, the dollar value of exported salt advanced via a 9.9% upturn compared to $3.47 billion for 2024.
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 India, Germany, Netherlands, United States of America then Spain. Combined, that quintet of major suppliers generated 45% of all international salt exported during 2025.
From a continental perspective, sources in Europe supplied the highest dollar worth of exported salt during 2025 with shipments valued at $1.7 billion or 47.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (24.1%) trailed by providers in North America (12%). Smaller percentages originated from Africa (8.7%), Latin America (7.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.6%) mostly New Zealand and Australia.
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading buyers of salt in 2025 are United States of America, mainland China, Japan, Germany and South Korea. Collectively, that subgroup of top import countries bought 41.2% of globally imported salt as measured by dollar value.
Those percentages suggest the total 163 salt exporters (45% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is more concentrated compared to roughly 220 importing countries, islands and territories. As specified in the above paragraph, the top 5 importers consumed a lower percentage at 41.2%.
As for imports of salt by continent, 38.5% of salt purchases was delivered to customers in Europe. Trailing buyers in Europe were importers in Asia (32.8%), North America (20%), Africa (4.4%), Latin America (3.3%) 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 2025.
- India: US$403.9 million (11.4% of total salt exports)
- Germany: $391 million (11%)
- Netherlands: $349.6 million (9.8%)
- United States: $231 million (6.5%)
- Spain: $223.1 million (6.3%)
- Chile: $173.7 million (4.9%)
- Canada: $144.7 million (4.1%)
- mainland China: $133.3 million (3.8%)
- United Kingdom: $113.6 million (3.2%)
- Belgium: $110.5 million (3.1%)
- Egypt: $100.6 million (2.8%)
- France: $80.2 million (2.3%)
- Pakistan: $77.6 million (2.2%)
- Denmark: $77.3 million (2.2%)
- Tunisia: $71.5 million (2%)
- Türkiye: $61.4 million (1.7%)
- Italy: $52.3 million (1.5%)
- Mexico: $50.3 million (1.4%)
- Poland: $44.2 million (1.2%)
- Romania: $43.6 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 82.5% of globally exported salt in 2025.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing salt exporters since 2024 were: Mexico (up 17.9%), United Kingdom (up 15.5%), Denmark (up 11.1%) and Italy (up 8.5%).
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported salt sales were: Belgium (down -22.4%), India (down -7.9%), Türkiye (down -6.2%), United States of America (down -5.4%) and Romania (down -2.7%).
Top Salt Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported salt was $5.21 billion. That dollar metric rose by 13.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2021 but was on par year over year compared to 2024 via a -1.4% slowdown.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of salt imported during 2025.
- United States: US$812.5 million (15.6% of total salt imports)
- mainland China: $484.6 million (9.3%)
- Japan: $313.1 million (6%)
- Germany: $275.4 million (5.3%)
- South Korea: $261.3 million (5%)
- Canada: $206.7 million (4%)
- Belgium: $196.5 million (3.8%)
- United Kingdom: $152.7 million (2.9%)
- France: $141.9 million (2.7%)
- Taiwan: $136.7 million (2.6%)
- Indonesia: $117.2 million (2.2%)
- Netherlands: $112.8 million (2.2%)
- Norway: $103.1 million (2%)
- Italy: $92.7 million (1.8%)
- Sweden: $85.1 million (1.6%)
- Czech Republic: $77.8 million (1.5%)
- Denmark: $67.4 million (1.3%)
- Poland: $64.9 million (1.2%)
- Ireland: $62 million (1.2%)
- Hungary: $58.1 million (1.1%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 73.4% of globally imported salt in 2025.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing salt importers since 2023 were: United States of America (up 36%), Netherlands (up 35.9%), Germany (up 15.6%) and Canada (up 14.4%).
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported salt purchases were led by: mainland China (down -19.3%), Belgium (down -17.4%), Poland (down -16.9%), Taiwan (down -13.4%) and Norway (down -13.3%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Salt
We calculated the world’s unweighted average unit price for globally imported salt to be $341 per ton in 2025. That dollar amount reflects an 18% increase from the average tonnage rate of $289 for 5 years earlier in 2021.
Year over year, the unweighted average tonnage rate inflated by 3.1% compared to $330.7 for 2024.
The average tonnage charge of $41 for the number one salt importer, United States of America, was lower than the unweighted world average of $341 per ton in 2025.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported salt in 2025.
- Bangladesh: US$24 per ton (down -11.1% from 2024
- Tanzania: $25 per ton (down -67.9%)
- Qatar: $27 per ton (down -38.6%)
- Argentina: $31 per ton (down -53%)
- Oman: $32 per ton (down -34.7%)
- Brazil: $33 per ton (down -8.3%)
- mainland China: $37 per ton (down -11.9%)
- United States: $41 per ton (down -4.7%)
- Burkina Faso: $42 per ton (down -19.2%)
- Vietnam: $43 per ton (down -6.5%)
- Paraguay: $43 per ton (down -6.5%)
- Indonesia: $44 per ton (down -4.3%)
- North Korea: $44 per ton (down -18.5%)
- South Korea: $46 per ton (down -11.5%)
- Taiwan: $49 per ton (down -5.8%)
Experiencing double-digit percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for salt from were low-cost importers in Tanzania (down -67.9% from 2024), Argentina (down -53%), Qatar (down -38.6%), Oman (down -34.7%), Burkina Faso (down -19.2%) then North Korea (down -18.5%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported salt.
- St Maarten (Dutch): US$2,500 per ton (up 13.6% from 2024
- Eritrea: $2,235 per ton (up 625.6%)
- Bermuda: $1,794 per ton (up 5.1%)
- British Virgin Islands: $1,754 per ton (down -39.5%)
- Guinea-Bissau: $1,700 per ton (up 359.5%)
- Antigua/Barbuda: $1,667 per ton (down -29.8%)
- Switzerland: $1,598 per ton (up 15.9%)
- Venezuela: $1,552 per ton (down -56.4%)
- British Indian Ocean Terr: $1,500 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Bahamas: $1,415 per ton (up 633.2%)
- Cayman Islands: $1,178 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Greenland: $1,163 per ton (up 89.7%)
- Aruba: $1,107 per ton (up 19.2%)
- Cuba: $1,039 per ton (up 11.8%)
- Saint Helena: $1,000 per ton (down -16.2%)
The strongest percentage increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2025 compared to 2024 were experienced by relatively small salt importers in the Bahamas (up 633.2%), Eritrea (up 625.6%), Guinea-Bissau (up 359.5%), Greenland (up 89.7%) then Aruba (up 19.2%).
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 June 16, 2026
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 16, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 16, 2026
Wikipedia, Salt. Accessed on June 16, 2026