Distribution Of Domestic And Imported Evaporated And Rock Salt In The United States, By Destination

This table presents detailed data on the distribution of both domestically produced and imported evaporated and rock salt across various U.S. states and territories, categorized by destination and salt type. The figures, expressed in thousand metric tons, encompass vacuum and open pan evaporated salt, solar evaporated salt, and rock salt. This information is crucial for understanding regional supply chains, industrial consumption, and market dynamics within the salt industry, which supports a wide array of economic activities including chemical manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, and winter road maintenance. Tracking these distribution patterns helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and analysts assess demand fluctuations, logistical considerations, and the balance between domestic production and imports.

Analysis of the data reveals that total salt distribution in the United States decreased from 28.9 million metric tons in 2022 to 26.4 million metric tons in 2023, marking a notable decline of approximately 8.7 percent. This reduction is primarily driven by a significant drop in rock salt distribution, which fell from 20.6 million metric tons to 17.8 million metric tons, while evaporated salt volumes remained relatively stable, with vacuum and open pan evaporated salt increasing slightly from 4.16 million to 4.45 million metric tons, and solar evaporated salt decreasing modestly from 4.41 million to 4.21 million metric tons. States with large industrial bases such as Michigan and New York continue to dominate rock salt distribution, though Michigan’s rock salt shipments decreased from 2.93 million metric tons to 2.71 million metric tons, and New York’s from 3.04 million to 1.04 million metric tons, indicating possible shifts in sourcing or demand. Conversely, states like Arkansas and Florida experienced increases in total salt distribution, with Arkansas rising from 101,000 to 125,000 metric tons and Florida from 305,000 to 371,000 metric tons, reflecting regional growth or changing consumption patterns. These trends highlight evolving market dynamics and the importance of monitoring both domestic production and import flows to meet the diverse needs of the U.S. salt market.