Growth in chemical manufacturing output will fuel the majority of additional demand between 2010
and 2015, largely due to the continued rapid expansion of chemical production in China.
Global demand to rise 2.9%
annually through 2015
Global demand for salt is projected to
climb 2.9 percent annually through 2015
to 327 million metric tons, valued at
$13.4 billion. Increased salt consumption
in most parts of the world will more than
offset expected contractions of demand
in Western Europe and Japan. Growth in
chemical manufacturing output will fuel
the majority of additional demand
between 2010 and 2015, largely due to
the continued rapid expansion of chemical
production in China. Salt suppliers
will also benefit from the shale gas
drilling boom currently underway in North
America, which will boost chloralkali
output in the US and Canada.
China to be fastest
growing national market
In 2010, China was the largest consumer
of salt, primarily due to the huge size of
its chemical industry, although food
processing and livestock salt use are
also substantial because of the nation’s
1.3 billion residents. China accounted for
one-fourth of global salt demand in 2010
and is projected to be the fastest growing
national market through 2015. Salt
consumption in India is also forecast to
grow well above the world average.
Chemical output by facilities in India is
forecast to rise faster than in any other
major producing country through 2015,
leading to sizable increases in associated
salt demand. As in China, growth in
the size of India’s population will also
contribute to overall salt market gains.
Solar evaporation to gain
share of salt production
Solar evaporation is the most prevalent
method of producing salt, accounting for
38 percent of 2010 industry shipments. It
is the most economical method of
producing salt in areas with favorable
weather conditions, which include a
number of nations in the Africa/Mideast
and Asia/Pacific regions. Salt production
is forecast to grow fastest in these
regions, and as a result solar evaporation
will account for an increasing share
of global salt output through 2015. Rock
salt and brine production will also post
moderate increases through 2015,
although their respective rates of growth
will lag that of solar evaporation.
Chemical manufacturing
is dominant salt market
Chemical manufacturing is by far the
largest market for salt, accounting for
nearly 55 percent of global demand in
2010. The vast majority of demand in
this market is generated by chloralkali
and synthetic soda ash producers, which
use salt as their primary feedstock. The
Asia/Pacific region accounts for over
one-half of the salt consumed by the
chemical industry. Western Europe and
North America also have sizable chemical
industries, and in 2010 they accounted
for 18 percent and 15 percent,
respectively, of chemical manufacturing
salt use.
Study Scope
This study analyzes the 284 million metric ton world salt industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010, and forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by market (e.g., chemical manufacturing, road deicing, food processing, livestock), production method (e.g., solar evaporation, rock salt, brine), world region and for 20 major countries.
The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 32 industry competitors, including K+S, China National Salt Industry and Cargill.
