Industrial Salts Market Analysis

Global Industrial Salts Market Overview

Industrial Salts Market Size was valued at USD 14.8 Billion in 2021. The Industrial Salts industry is projected to grow from USD 15.3 Billion in 2022 to USD 19.8 Billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.28% during the forecast period (2022 - 2030).The increasing demand for chemical processing, increasing food processing and agriculture industry, and demand for water treatment and processing and usage in pharmaceutical and healthcare are positively boosting the market growth.Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Industrial Salts Market Trends

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  The increasing demand for chemical processing across globe boosts market growth

  
  

As per the reports from the American Chemistry Council, the U.S.'s chemical industry production was grown by 12.3% in 2021 compared to the previous year. The cumulative chemical capital expenditure (Capex) was nearly USD 35 billion by 2021, with a growth rate of 16.1% compared to the previous year. The extensive usage of industrial salts for the chemical processing market positively impacts the market growth. Salt is a source of chlorine used highly in the chemical industry. It is used extensively in producing plastic called PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The PVC market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period, which will simultaneously increase the market growth. This salt is also used as an additive in the production of many derivative salts such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2), sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6), sodium chlorate (NaClO3), and sodium perchlorate (NaClO4•H2O). Apart from producing different salts, it produces detergents, soaps, and other laundry care products. Furthermore, due to its cost-effectiveness attribute, it is widely used in the cosmetics and laundry industry. It is also used in the production of inorganic chemicals like titanium dioxide, enhancing the growth of the industrial salts market.

In 2021, Tata Chemicals acquired a plant –owned by Archean Group- that specializes in the manufacture of industrial salts. The acquisition, which has a capacity of about three million tons, is expected to impact positively Tata Chemicals’ business since it will enhance the performance of its operations within the sector of industrial salts.

Figure 1: Growth of allied industries using industrial salts.Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

In agriculture farming, the salt replaces refined chlorine and sodium in the feeding of Ovidae and Bovidae, which lick block-shaped salts placed in the meadows. It can also be supplied in a mixture of other minerals. In food processing industries that process and produces food such as meat and fish, salt is widely used to preserve food and prevent it from spoiling. When salt is added to meat or fish, it enhances flavors and prevents bacterial formation for a long time. Another industry where industrial salts are used is the pharmaceutical industry, where these are used for making capsules or tablets. Apart from this, industrial salts are widely used in cold packaging or restoring godowns for transferring or holding perishable products. Above mentioned factors help the market to grow at a reasonable rate through the forecast period.

The primary restraint impacting the growth of the market is its effect on human health in the long term. Overexposure or usage can cause health problems such as brain damage, kidneys, or hormonal disorders; cases lead to death sometimes. The government-imposed regulations on industrial salt in different sectors impact the market growth. Thus, such factors impact the growth of the market, restraining its potential in the forecast period.

Compass Minerals also reported an approximate increase in highway anti icing product sales by around four point eight million tonnes during the fiscal year 2022 second quarter. All these sales consisted all highway maintenance products sold across different parts of the US, Canada, as well as the UK. However, these road safety measures include important aspects such as availability throughout winter weather seasons when motorists are safe. In addition, salt is employed in consumer, industrial and agricultural applications. Besides this, the company’s chemical specialty business supports sustainable agricultural practices and water treatment initiatives or projects as well.

Industrial Salts Market Segment Insights

Industrial Salts by Source Type Insights

Based on source, the  Industrial Salts market segmentation includes natural brine and salt mines. The natural brine segment held the largest revenue share of 66.14% in 2021 and is expected to remain dominant through the forecast period.  

Figure 2:  Industrial Salts Market, by Source Type, 2021 & 2030 (USD Billion)Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

Natural brines are found underground, in salt lakes, seabeds, or seawater, and are important sources of industrial salts, such as sulfates and chlorides of potassium and magnesium. Increasing restrictions from governments over mining activities creates a positive impact on brine as a source. Brine-extracted industrial salts are majorly used in chemical applications and processing, leading to high demand in the coming years.

Even though the processing cost of brine-based extraction in comparison to mining is high due to huge energy consumption during the overall process. In this process, the vacuum pan technique utilizes high energy consumption. During this process, high-purity salts are achieved and used in specific industries such as high-grade chemicals, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

Salt mines are mainly used to extract rock salts. These rock salts are also known as halite. Rock salt mines were created due to the evaporation of vast saltwater deposits such as oceans, lakes, or volcanos. These mines are usually 1,100 meters (3,737 feet) below sea level.

Extracting salts from mines requires licenses, approvals, and permits from mining authorities of the state or country, which restrains the growth of rock salt. In addition, due to changing demand for de-icing, the demand for rock salt fluctuates, which is expected to restrain this process.

July 2022: Compass Minerals which operates in salt, minerals, and other products, reported growth of approximately 4.8 million tons highway anti icing products during the mid-quarter of 2022. This sale is attributed to the highway maintenance products which were sold in various states of Canada, the U.S., and the United Kingdom.

January 2021: Tata Chemicals Ltd., which manufactures minerals, salts, alkali products, and other chemical-based products are in talks of acquiring the salt unit of the Archean’s Group.

Industrial Salts Manufacturing Process Insights

Based on the manufacturing process, the industrial salts market segmentation includes mining, solar evaporation, and vacuum pan evaporation. The mining segment dominated the market in 2021 with a share of more than 51.9% and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Salt mining is of two types: solution mining and deep-shaft mining. The cheap and cos effective process of chemical production is one of the major driving factors for the market's growth. An increase in innovations in agriculture toward the development of herbicides and pesticides propel the demand for industrial salts. Water treatment and recycling plants across many developed and developing regions propel the demand for industrial salts produced by mining.

While vacuum pan evaporation is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 3.98% through the forecast period. Large sea deposits, high-quality salt extraction, and increasing usage in sensitive products such as pharma and water processing drive the growth of this segment.

Industrial Salts Application Insights

Based on the application process, the industrial salts market segmentation includes chemical processing, de-icing, water softening, agriculture, food processing, and others. The chemical processing segment dominated the market in 2021 with a share of more than 50% and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period 2022-2030. Chemical manufacturers use various grades of salts, such as rock, brine, and high-purity grades, for chemical processing. However, most chemical companies prefer to create artificial brine with high purity levels for consumption processed through solution mining.

Figure 3:  Industrial Salts Market, by Application Type, 2021 & 2030 (USD Billion)Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

De-icing is the second-largest application for industrial salts. This demand is due to this product's low cost, abundant supply, and effective ice control properties. Rock salt is majorly used for de-icing due to its natural and low-cost features.

Food processing application is expected to grow fastest with a CAGR of 3.99% through the forecast period. This application's demand for industrial salts is flourishing due to the increased demand for processed foods ly.

Industrial Salts Regional Insights

The study segments the market by region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North America Industrial Salts market, accounted for USD 4 Billion in 2021 and is expected to exhibit a 3.07% CAGR during the study period. This demand is attributed to the increasing chemical and deicing industry usage. The market in the U.S. accounted for 15.5% of  consumption in 2021. This trend is due to rising product demand in chemical processing and highway deicing. As per our study, the chemical processing market in the U.S. is expected to grow at a growth rate of more than 7% during the coming years, which is expected to drive the industrial salts market simultaneously. Apart from that, there is a huge requirement for deicing in Canada and many parts of the U.S due to snowfall maximum times also drives the market in this region.

Further, the major countries studied are: The U.S, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Europe's Industrial Salts market accounts for the third-largest market share due to increased usage in the NORDIC and Arctic regions. Consistent snowfall, and increased demand in marine agriculture, drive the market for industrial salts in this region.

Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market in 2021 and is expected to remain dominant through the forecast period. The primary factors contributing to this region's growth are increasing chemical consumption of plastic and other products, a higher population consuming processed food, increased demand for industrial salt fusion, and increased usage in the agriculture sector.

Rest of the World covers the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The industrial salts market in this region is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 2.87% in revenue terms through the forecast period. Due to massive oil and gas exploration activities, industrial salts are required for land loosening. Apart from this, there is a huge demand for water treatment which automatically extracts industrial salts in the Middle East region, used for different chemicals and food processing.

Industrial Salts Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Major market players are spending a lot of money on R&D to increase their collaboration lines, which will help the industrial salts market grow even more. Market participants are also taking various strategic initiatives to grow their worldwide footprint, including agreements and collaborations with the government, mergers, and acquisitions, and collaboration with SME players. Due to its high competition, competitors in the industrial salts industry must offer cost-effective solutions.

One of the primary business strategies manufacturers adopt in the  ‘industrial salts industry is to benefit clients and expand the industrial salts market to build up the alliance and collaborations with companies with long-term usage in their process. The industrial salts market is partially fragmented, with big players having nearly 30% share in 2021. The major companies in the market are Cargill Incorporated, INEOS, K+S Aktiengesellschaft, Nouryon, and Tata Chemicals Ltd.

Key Companies in the Industrial Salts market includes.

• Archean Group


• Cargill Incorporated


• Compass Minerals


• Delmon Group of Companies


• Dominion Salt Limited


• Donald Brown Group


• Exportadora de Sal de CV


• INEOS


• K+S Aktiengesellschaft


• MITSUI & CO. LTD


• Morton Salt Inc.


• Nouryon


• Rio Tinto


• Salins IAA


• Tata Chemicals Ltd

Industrial Salts Industry Developments

Saltworks Technology doubled its production capability in January 2024 in order to upgrade its main manufacturing facility, which is built on its standardized modular designs that are replicable and cell-based production with adherence to ISO Quality Assurance standards.

In May 2023, Cargill’s salt business signed an agreement with CIECH Group, one of the leading suppliers of evaporated salt products, to extend its range of specialty and evaporated food-salt solutions to food manufacturers in Europe.

Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) announced plans to bolster Ghana's salt industry, targeting Ada Songhor Lagoon as it aims at transforming it into Sub-Saharan Africa's largest producer of salt, consistent with Ghana's industrialization plan in March 2023.

Invest International said it had provided a USD13.6 million loan facility for Egyptian Salt Industry Co.(ESIC) earmarked for putting up a salt refining industrial plant in Egypt using technology and equipment from Titan Salt B.V., a Dutch firm, in February 2023.

CIECH Soda Polska entered into a long-term supply agreement with Inowroclaw Salt Mines “Solino” so as to ensure brine provision for its production until 2035 by December 2022.

Industrial Salts Market Segmentation

Industrial Salts Source Outlook

• Natural Brine


• Salt Mines

Industrial Salts Manufacturing Outlook

• Mining


• Solar Evaporation


• Vacuum Pan Evaporation

Industrial Salts Application Outlook

• Chemical Processing


• De-Icing


• Water Softening


• Agriculture


• Food Processing


• Others

Industrial Salts Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America