Salient Salt Statistics

This table presents comprehensive data on salt production, usage, trade, and consumption in the United States from 2019 through 2023, alongside global production figures. It breaks down U.S. production by method—vacuum and open pans, solar evaporation, rock mining, and brine extraction—highlighting the quantities produced in thousand metric tons. Additionally, it details the quantities and values of salt sold or used domestically, exports, imports for consumption, and apparent and reported consumption. This data is crucial for understanding the salt industry's economic impact, as salt is a fundamental raw material used across various sectors including chemical manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, and de-icing, making it a key commodity for industrial stability and growth.

Analyzing the data reveals several notable trends. U.S. total salt production experienced a decline from 44.8 million metric tons in 2019 to 39.8 million metric tons in 2023, with rock salt production decreasing significantly from 19.1 million metric tons to 14.6 million metric tons over the same period. Conversely, brine production showed a recovery after a dip in 2021, rising from 14.5 million metric tons to 17.4 million metric tons in 2023. Solar salt production steadily increased, reaching 3.62 million metric tons in 2023, while vacuum and open pan production rebounded from a low of 3.46 million metric tons in 2022 to 4.19 million metric tons in 2023. Salt exports more than doubled from 886,000 metric tons in 2022 to 2.26 million metric tons in 2023, accompanied by an increase in export value to $235 million. Imports for consumption, however, declined sharply from 22.5 million metric tons in 2022 to 15.7 million metric tons in 2023. Apparent consumption dropped to 52.8 million metric tons in 2023, down from a peak of 63.4 million metric tons in 2021, reflecting shifts in domestic demand or inventory levels. Globally, salt production showed a gradual decrease from 295 million metric tons in 2019 to 269 million metric tons in 2023, indicating broader market dynamics influencing supply and demand.