U.S. Imports For Consumption Of Salt, By Country Or Locality

This table presents detailed data on the quantities and customs values of salt imported into the United States from various countries and localities for the years 2022 and 2023. Such information is crucial for understanding the dynamics of the U.S. salt supply chain, which supports a wide range of industrial, agricultural, and consumer applications. Monitoring import sources and volumes helps policymakers and industry stakeholders assess market dependencies, price fluctuations, and supply security, especially given salt’s essential role in chemical manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, and road de-icing.

Analysis of the data reveals a notable decline in total salt imports, with quantities dropping from 22.5 million metric tons in 2022 to 15.7 million metric tons in 2023, accompanied by a decrease in value from $666 million to $544 million. Major suppliers such as Canada and Chile saw significant reductions in volume, with Canadian imports falling from 4.38 million to 3.63 million metric tons and Chilean imports decreasing from 5.35 million to 4.09 million metric tons. China’s salt exports to the U.S. experienced a sharp decline, plummeting from 2.78 million to just 317 thousand metric tons. Conversely, some countries like Australia and the Dominican Republic increased their shipments, with Australia’s imports rising from 6 thousand to 9 thousand metric tons and the Dominican Republic’s from 2 thousand to 53 thousand metric tons. These shifts suggest changing trade patterns and possibly evolving supply chain strategies within the salt market.