Globally exported salt increased in value by an average 8.9% since 2018 when export sales for salt were $3.1 billion.
Year over year, the dollar value of exported salt rose 4.7% compared to $3.24 billion for 2021.
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, Canada, India, United States of America, then Canada. Combined, that quintet of major suppliers generated 43.1% of all international salt exported during 2022.
From a continental perspective, sources in Europe supplied the highest dollar worth of exported salt during 2022 with shipments valued at $1.55 billion or 45.9% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (22.6%) trailed by providers in North America (12.6%). Smaller percentages originated from Africa (9.4%), Latin America (8.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (1.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of salt in 2022 are the United States of America, mainland China, Japan, Germany and South Korea. Collectively, that subgroup of top import countries bought 43.5% of globally imported salt as measured by dollar value.
Those percentages suggest the total 161 salt exporters (43.1% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a slightly less concentrated cohort compared to 220 importing countries, islands and territories. Again, the top 5 importers consumed a modestly higher 43.5%.
As for imports of salt by continent, 36.9% of salt purchases was delivered to customers in Europe. Trailing Europe were importers in Asia (34.6%), North America (19.2%), Africa (5.1%), 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 2022.
- Netherlands: US$435.8 million (12.9% of total salt exports)
- Germany: $314.3 million (9.3%)
- India: $311.7 million (9.2%)
- United States: $205.3 million (6.1%)
- Canada: $194.4 million (5.7%)
- Chile: $183.6 million (5.4%)
- Spain: $160 million (4.7%)
- China: $143 million (4.2%)
- Tunisia: $97 million (2.9%)
- United Kingdom: $94.5 million (2.8%)
- Belgium: $90.1 million (2.7%)
- France: $69.4 million (2%)
- Pakistan: $69.3 million (2%)
- Denmark: $65.1 million (1.9%)
- Türkiye: $64.3 million (1.9%)
- Romania: $58.8 million (1.7%)
- Poland: $52.1 million (1.5%)
- Italy: $48 million (1.4%)
- Kazakhstan: $47.4 million (1.4%)
- Brazil: $47.2 million (1.4%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 81.2% of globally exported salt in 2022.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing salt exporters since 2021 were: Türkiye (up 51.8%), Poland (up 36.1%), United Kingdom (up 33.6%) and Chile (up 21.8%).
Those major suppliers that posted declines in their exported salt sales were led by: Spain (down -32.3% from 2021), Belgium (down -28.8%), Canada (down -20.1%), Italy (down -11%) and France (down -8.7%).
Top Salt Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported salt was $5.16 billion. That dollar metric rose by 27.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 and expanded by 12.5% year over year since 2021.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of salt imported during 2022.
- United States: US$816.9 million (15.8% of total salt imports)
- China: $560.6 million (10.9%)
- Japan: $347.8 million (6.7%)
- Germany: $285.8 million (5.5%)
- South Korea: $232.9 million (4.5%)
- Belgium: $181 million (3.5%)
- Canada: $152.2 million (3%)
- Taiwan: $132.4 million (2.6%)
- Indonesia: $124.5 million (2.4%)
- France: $112.4 million (2.2%)
- United Kingdom: $112 million (2.2%)
- Norway: $111.6 million (2.2%)
- Ukraine: $91.5 million (1.8%)
- Italy: $76.1 million (1.5%)
- Czech Republic: $74.6 million (1.4%)
- Netherlands: $73.6 million (1.4%)
- Sweden: $68 million (1.3%)
- Poland: $66.3 million (1.3%)
- Brazil: $64.4 million (1.2%)
- Malaysia: $62.5 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 72.6% of globally imported salt in 2022.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing salt importers since 2021 were: Ukraine (up 608.2%), China (up 91.2%), Malaysia (up 30.9%) and Brazil (up 26.3%).
A trio of major buying countries posted declines in their imported purchases of salt, namely: Belgium (down -11.7% from 2021), Netherlands (also down -11.7%) and the United States of America (down -1%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Salt
We calculated the world’s average unit price for globally imported salt to be $72 per ton in 2022. That dollar amount reflects a 29% uptick from the average tonnage rate of $56 for 2021.
The average tonnage charge of $50 for the number one salt importer, United States of America, was lower than the world average of $72 in 2022.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported salt in 2022.
- Sri Lanka: US$0.57 per ton (down -99.9% from 2021
- Cameroon: $24 per ton (down -70.4%)
- Argentina: $30 per ton (down -54.5%)
- Bangladesh: $31 per ton (up 14.8%)
- Oman: $32 per ton (down -66.3%)
- Lebanon: $35 per ton (up 12.9%)
- Afghanistan: $35 per ton (down -28.6%)
- Brazil: $36 per ton (up 5.9%)
- Taiwan: $40 per ton (up 14.3%)
- Paraguay: $41 per ton (down -29.3%)
- South Africa: $44 per ton (down -18.5%)
- Indonesia: $45 per ton (up 18.4%)
- Qatar: $47 per ton (up 34.3%)
- South Korea: $49 per ton (up 6.5%)
- North Korea: $49 per ton (down -10.9%)
Experiencing the greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for salt from were low-cost importers Sri Lanka (down -99.9% from 2021), Cameroon (down -70.5%), Oman (down -66.3%), Argentina (down -54.5%), Paraguay (down -29.3%) and Afghanistan (down -28.6%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported salt.
- British Indian Ocean Territory: US$6,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Angola: $2,713 per ton (up 1,515%)
- Finland: $2,574 per ton (up 3,426%)
- Norfolk Island: $2,000 per ton (up 100%)
- Cayman Islands: $1,800 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Aruba: $1,798 per ton (up 18.3%)
- Antigua/Barbuda: $1,735 per ton (up 25.7%)
- American Samoa: $1,727 per ton (up 25.8%)
- British Virgin Islands: $1,588 per ton (up 41.2%)
- Montserrat: $1,500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Bermuda: $1,402 per ton (down -0.8%)
- Trinidad/Tobago: $1,247 per ton (up 36%)
- Madagascar: $1,038 per ton (up 10.3%)
- Eritrea: $1,000 per ton (up 133.1%)
- Switzerland: $985 per ton (up 5.9%)
The strongest percentage increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were experienced by salt importers in Finland (up 3,426%), Angola (up 1,515%), Eritrea (up 133.1%) and Norfolk Island (up 100%).
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 20, 2023
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 20, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 20, 2023
Wikipedia, Salt. Accessed on August 20, 2023