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Export salt

Bulk industrial sea salt from Gujarat to China, Korea and Japan; packed edible salt to neighbours.

Free to exportHS 2501
HS code
2501
Salt, including table salt, iodised salt, industrial salt and pure sodium chloride, and sea water.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 (no condition listed). Confirm the current entry on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you sign a contract.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 388 mn
to 100 countries

What is exported

Most Indian salt is solar sea salt from Gujarat, with Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan next. Exports are mainly bulk industrial salt for chemical plants (chlor-alkali and soda ash) in East Asia, plus packed edible and iodised salt for neighbouring countries and the Gulf. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 388 million under HS 2501; China led, followed by South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Qatar.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Industrial (crude) sea saltFor chlor-alkali, soda ash and other chemical plants; sold by NaCl purity and moisture.
  • Refined free-flow and iodised saltTable salt in retail packs for food markets.
  • Rock and speciality saltsRock salt, black salt (kala namak) and gourmet sea salts for diaspora and gourmet buyers.
  • De-icing and water-softener saltCoarse salt for road de-icing and water treatment.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratKutch (Gandhidham, Kandla, Mundra), Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and the Little Rann — the bulk of Indian salt
  • Tamil NaduThoothukudi (Tuticorin) and Vedaranyam
  • RajasthanSambhar, Nawa and Didwana — inland lake salt
  • Andhra Pradesh and OdishaCoastal salt pans

Season

Solar salt is harvested mainly from about October to June; the monsoon stops production on most of the coast.

Export packing

  • Industrial salt goes loose in bulk vessels or in jumbo bags.
  • Edible salt in 500 g to 1 kg laminated pouches, packed in HDPE bags or cartons of 25–50 kg.

Who buys abroad

  • Chlor-alkali and soda-ash plants
  • Food distributors and supermarket chains
  • Diaspora grocery importers
  • Municipal de-icing and water-treatment buyers

The quality buyers ask for

NaCl purity
Industrial grades commonly 97–99% NaCl on dry basis, as per contract
Moisture
Maximum moisture agreed in the contract (crude salt is wetter than refined)
Impurities
Limits on calcium, magnesium, sulphate and insoluble matter
Edible salt
Codex CXS 150 food-grade salt; iodine content as per the importing country's rule
Particle size
Grain size distribution as agreed (fine, medium, coarse)

Certificates

  • FSSAI licence (edible salt)RequiredThe manufacturer's food licence; asked by food importers.
  • Certificate of analysis and survey reportRequiredIndependent lab analysis and draft survey for every bulk shipment.
  • Health certificateOften askedSome food importers ask for a health or free-sale certificate for edible salt.
  • Halal / kosherOften askedOptional, for certain food markets.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container of packed salt typically carries about 25–27 tonnes (weight-limited). Industrial salt moves in bulk vessels of tens of thousands of tonnes.

How it travels

Bulk from Kandla (Deendayal), Mundra, Navlakhi and Tuticorin; containers from Mundra and Tuticorin; road to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Covered, dry storage; salt corrodes metal and absorbs moisture.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Edible salt: product name, iodised or not, net weight, batch, dates, manufacturer and importer details in the market language.
  • Industrial bags: grade, net weight, lot and "Made in India".
  • Nutrition panel where the importing country requires it for food salt.
Where to get it tested

CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, is India's salt research institute and tests salt. FSSAI-notified and NABL-accredited food labs test edible salt and iodine; independent surveyors test bulk lots at the port.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • Salt CommissionerThe Office of the Salt Commissioner (Ministry of Commerce) regulates salt production and keeps data on manufacturers and exports; buy from registered manufacturers.saltcomindia.gov.in ↗
  • FSSAIEdible salt is a food: the manufacturer needs an FSSAI licence, and many importers ask for it.fssai.gov.in ↗
  • FIEOSalt is not named for a specific council in Appendix 2T; take the RCMC from FIEO.fieo.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Industrial salt: sodium chloride purity, moisture, insoluble matter, calcium and magnesium — tested per lot against the contract.
  • Edible salt: the Codex standard for food-grade salt is the common reference; iodine level must meet the importing country's rule.
  • Independent survey at loading (weight and quality) is standard for bulk vessels.
How to start small

Bulk industrial salt needs shiploads and port tie-ups, so a newcomer usually starts with packed edible salt (iodised, rock salt or speciality sea salt) for importers in Nepal, Bangladesh, the Gulf or diaspora grocery chains. Source from an FSSAI-licensed refinery and ship in 20-ft containers.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Salt absorbs moisture and cakes or corrodes — use lined bags and dry containers.
  • Iodine level below the importing country's minimum — the shipment is rejected at the border.
  • Weight loss claims on bulk cargo — agree an independent surveyor and the moisture allowance in the contract.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 2501 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. Office of the Salt Commissioner, Government of India
  5. FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
  6. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  7. Codex Alimentarius — Standard for Food Grade Salt (CXS 150-1985)

Trade data

Indian salt exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 388 mn
+16.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -13.5%
US$ 449 mn → US$ 388 mn
Buyer countries
100
Average export price
US$ 0.02
per kg · 19.23 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.02 the year before
China: US$ 157 mnSouth Korea: US$ 61.6 mnJapan: US$ 28.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 16.7 mnVietnam: US$ 14.2 mnQatar: US$ 13.9 mnTaiwan: US$ 13 mnBangladesh: US$ 12.4 mnNepal: US$ 12.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 10.9 mnMalaysia: US$ 4.8 mnOman: US$ 4.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 4.2 mnKenya: US$ 3.5 mnTanzania: US$ 2.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 2.5 mnAustralia: US$ 2.2 mnThailand: US$ 2.2 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.6 mnMozambique: US$ 1.5 mnCanada: US$ 960kChina: US$ 157 mnChinaSouth Korea: US$ 61.6 mnJapan: US$ 28.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 16.7 mnIndonesiaVietnam: US$ 14.2 mnVietnamQatar: US$ 13.9 mnQatarTaiwan: US$ 13 mnTaiwanBangladesh: US$ 12.4 mnBangladeshNepal: US$ 12.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 10.9 mnMalaysia: US$ 4.8 mnOman: US$ 4.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 4.2 mnKenya: US$ 3.5 mnTanzania: US$ 2.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 2.5 mnAustralia: US$ 2.2 mnThailand: US$ 2.2 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 1.6 mnMozambique: US$ 1.5 mnCanada: US$ 960kIndia
Where Indian salt goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 178 mn1782020-212021-22: US$ 205 mn2052021-222022-23: US$ 339 mn3392022-232023-24: US$ 344 mn3442023-242024-25: US$ 449 mn4492024-252025-26: US$ 388 mn3882025-26
India’s salt exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2020-21 — a 19% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.02 per kg0.022021-22: US$ 0.02 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.02 per kg0.022024-25: US$ 0.02 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.02 per kg0.022020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian salt · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 178 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 205 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 339 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 344 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 449 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 388 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 563 mn (US$ 445 mn – US$ 712 mn)5632026-272027-28: US$ 673 mn (US$ 518 mn – US$ 875 mn)6732027-28
India’s salt exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 673 mn

Likely range US$ 518 mn to US$ 875 mn.

Trend
+19.6% a year
Fit (R²)
0.83
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1ChinaUS$ 157 mn-32.4%
2South KoreaUS$ 61.6 mn-1.6%
3JapanUS$ 28.2 mn+31.3%
4IndonesiaUS$ 16.7 mn-5.2%
5VietnamUS$ 14.2 mn+31.7%
6QatarUS$ 13.9 mn-18.9%
7TaiwanUS$ 13 mn-10.9%
8BangladeshUS$ 12.4 mn+13.2%
9NepalUS$ 12.1 mn-7%
10Sri LankaUS$ 10.9 mn+538.2%
11MalaysiaUS$ 4.8 mn-14.5%
12OmanUS$ 4.7 mn-12.4%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. Sri LankaUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 10.9 mn+538.2%
  2. VietnamUS$ 10.8 mn → US$ 14.2 mn+31.7%
  3. JapanUS$ 21.4 mn → US$ 28.2 mn+31.3%
  4. BangladeshUS$ 11 mn → US$ 12.4 mn+13.2%

Low demand

  1. ChinaUS$ 232 mn → US$ 157 mn-32.4%
  2. QatarUS$ 17.1 mn → US$ 13.9 mn-18.9%
  3. MalaysiaUS$ 5.6 mn → US$ 4.8 mn-14.5%
  4. OmanUS$ 5.4 mn → US$ 4.7 mn-12.4%
  5. TaiwanUS$ 14.6 mn → US$ 13 mn-10.9%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Salt, pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution, sea water — other salts2501 00 90US$ 338 mn-15.9%18.31 mn tonnesUS$ 0.02 per kgwas US$ 0.02
Common salt(including iodised salt)2501 00 10 · Salt, pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution, sea waterUS$ 42.1 mn+8.2%6,86,695 tonnesUS$ 0.06 per kgwas US$ 0.06
Salt, pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution, sea water — rock salt2501 00 20US$ 8 mn+1.7%2,36,412 tonnesUS$ 0.03 per kgwas US$ 0.04

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 5.05 bn
2023
India among exporters
#3
of 149 countries
India’s share of world exports
10.1%
US$ 333 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 2.98 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1NetherlandsUS$ 408 mn 12.3%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 380 mn 11.4%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 333 mn 10.1%
  4. 4USAUS$ 258 mn 7.8%
  5. 5ChileUS$ 175 mn 5.3%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 163 mn 4.9%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 155 mn 4.7%
  8. 8ChinaUS$ 130 mn 3.9%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 85.4 mn 2.6%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 71.9 mn 2.2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 688 mn 13.6%
  2. 2ChinaUS$ 453 mn 9%
  3. 3JapanUS$ 316 mn 6.3%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 262 mn 5.2%
  5. 5Rep. of KoreaUS$ 247 mn 4.9%
  6. 6CanadaUS$ 216 mn 4.3%
  7. 7BelgiumUS$ 151 mn 3%
  8. 8Other Asia, nesUS$ 148 mn 2.9%
  9. 9FranceUS$ 137 mn 2.7%
  10. 10United KingdomUS$ 136 mn 2.7%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 598 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 595 mn
JapanUS$ 339 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 339 mn
GermanyUS$ 238 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 238 mn
ChinaUS$ 601 mnIndia 65.2% · gap US$ 209 mn
CanadaUS$ 182 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 182 mn
South KoreaUS$ 253 mnIndia 45.6% · gap US$ 138 mn
United KingdomUS$ 136 mnIndia 4.2% · gap US$ 131 mn
FranceUS$ 131 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 131 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 126 mnIndia 22.4% · gap US$ 97.8 mn
ItalyUS$ 86.5 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 86.5 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export salt

India is one of the world's largest salt producers, and Gujarat alone makes most of the country's salt. Exports are dominated by industrial sea salt for chemical plants in China, South Korea, Japan and South-East Asia, where demand follows chlor-alkali and soda-ash production. Australia, Mexico and Chile are the main competitors in seaborne industrial salt. Edible salt exports are smaller and go mainly to neighbouring countries, the Gulf and diaspora markets. Openings are in steady industrial contracts for large producers and, for smaller exporters, packed iodised, rock and speciality salts.

  1. 01Pick the segment

    Industrial bulk (needs volume and port access) or packed edible salt.

  2. 02Source

    Buy from registered salt works or FSSAI-licensed refineries.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC (FIEO).

  4. 04Agree specification

    NaCl, moisture, impurities, grain size and survey terms.

  5. 05Test and survey

    Independent lab analysis and weight survey at loading.

  6. 06Ship and get paid

    LC is common for bulk; claim drawback (0.15%) only on packed common salt.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting salt

Is salt export free?
Yes, HS 2501 has no condition in ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Confirm on DGFT before contracting.
Does salt get RoDTEP?
No — Chapter 25 is not in the Appendix 4R schedule in force. Packed common salt gets 0.15% drawback; bulk salt gets none.
Who buys Indian industrial salt?
Chemical plants in China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, which led India's salt exports in 2025-26.
Do I need FSSAI for edible salt exports?
The manufacturer must hold an FSSAI licence; many importers also ask for it on the documents.
Who regulates salt in India?
The Office of the Salt Commissioner under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, plus FSSAI for food salt.
Sources (8)
  1. Office of the Salt Commissioner, Government of India
  2. FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
  3. FIEO — Federation of Indian Export Organisations (RCMC for products without a specific council)
  4. Codex Alimentarius — Standard for Food Grade Salt (CXS 150-1985)
  5. CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar
  6. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  7. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  8. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback

Who buys Indian salt

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