My basketIndustrial Minerals / Salt: Global Industry Markets and Outlook, 13th edition 2011
Contents
- 1. Summary
- 2. Introduction and properties of salt
- 3. Mining and processing of salt
- 4. World production of salt
- 5. Review of salt production in Asia by country
- 6. Review of salt production in North America by country
- 7. Review of salt production in Europe by country
- 8. Review of salt production in South and Central America by country
- 9. Review of salt production in Oceania by country
- 10. Review of salt production in the Middle East by country
- 11. Review of salt production in Africa by country
- 12. International trade in salt
- 13. World consumption of salt
- 14. Use of salt in chloralkali production
- 15. Use of salt in synthetic soda ash production
- 16. Use of salt in other chemical applications
- 17. Use of salt in road de-icing
- 18. Use of salt in food and food processing
- 19. Use of salt in other applications
- 20. Prices of salt
Salt: Global Industry Markets and Outlook, 13th edition 2011
Growth in salt consumption during the mid- to late- 2000s was driven by the chemicals sector, which now accounts for over 55% of salt demand. Increased chloralkali and synthetic soda ash output in Asia, but more specifically China, was largely responsible for a rise in salt consumption to 260Mt in 2008. Consumption fell by 8% year-on-year in 2009, due to recession in Europe and North America, but recovered strongly in 2010 as Asian economic growth continued and colder-than-average winters increased salt demand for de-icing in the Northern Hemisphere. Asia now accounts for 43% of total salt demand. Demand for salt is forecast to increase by 3.3%py through 2015, to almost 300Mt.
Solar evaporation of seawater or inland brines accounts for 40% of salt production, the remainder is divided between mined rock salt and solution mining. World output of salt totalled 262Mt in 2009, a rise of nearly 3%py from 222Mt in 2003, and was broadly stable in 2010. Regional growth was led by Asia, which accounted for 25% of world output in 2003 and for 34% by 2009. Six countries, each with output of more than 10Mtpy, account for over 60% of the world total. China overtook the USA to become the largest producer in 2006 and Chinese output reached 64Mt in 2010. K+S Group is the world’s largest salt producer, followed by CNSIC in China and Cargill in the USA.
Planned increases in production capacity and expansions under consideration worldwide have the potential to add more than 30Mtpy capacity through 2015. China is forecast to account for some two-thirds of this total, with few significant expansions for chemical-grade salt planned outside Asia. Historically, salt prices have increased by 3-4%py, reflecting rising production costs. Late 2010 saw higher prices as the supply of salt tightened. If Chinese production capacity fails to come on-stream as planned, rising demand from the chemicals sector is likely to exert upward pressure on chemical-grade salt prices through the early 2010s.
World: Consumption of salt by end-use, 2009 (%)
Get accurate answers from independent experts
- Who are the leading producers of salt?
- Which chemical companies have captive brine sources?
- Where can rock salt be sourced to meet winter de-icing demand?
- Which countries dominate the supply of salt on international markets?
- How do consumption patterns vary between regions?
- How important will China be to future growth in the salt industry?
