Salt
Salt is sodium chloride, produced by mining rock salt underground, by solution mining and vacuum evaporation of brine, and by solar evaporation of seawater or inland brine in shallow ponds. It is the largest tonnage mineral in the chemical industry, where it is the feedstock for chlorine, caustic soda and soda ash and therefore stands behind plastics, glass, paper, aluminium and water treatment. It is spread on winter roads to depress the freezing point of ice, regenerates the resin in water softeners, cures hides, preserves and seasons food, and is used in animal feed, oilfield drilling brine and dyeing.
Listed salt markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
A salt contract turns on the sodium chloride assay, on the insoluble and calcium and magnesium impurities that follow the production route, and on the sizing, because a de-icing gradation, a compressed pellet and a fine food grade are separate products.
Chemical assay
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Production routeDeclared, as rock salt, vacuum evaporated, or solar salt | The route sets the impurity profile, the crystal habit and the sizing options, and it is named before any number on the contract. |
| Sodium chloridePercentage by mass, on a dry basis | Determined by argentometric titration or by the reference method named in the contract. The payable assay and the headline grade term. |
| Matter insoluble in waterPercentage by mass, maximum | Clay, anhydrite and marl carried through from the seam or the pond. It is the term that separates a chemical grade from a de-icing grade. |
| Calcium and magnesiumPercentage by mass, maximum, as the ions or the sulphate and chloride salts | Hardness ions. They foul a membrane cell and a water softener resin, so chemical and softener grades carry the tightest ceilings. |
| SulphatePercentage by mass, maximum | Present as calcium sulphate. A penalty term in chlor alkali and in food use. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying. It is caking, freight and weight all at once, and solar salt is shipped with a declared moisture. |
| PotassiumPercentage by mass, maximum | Relevant to chemical and food grades. |
| BromideMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Concentrated in solar salt from seawater, and controlled in chemical and food grades. |
| IronMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | A colour term. It causes discolouration in food and in compressed pellets. |
| Anticaking agentDeclared, with the substance and the addition rate named | Ferrocyanide, silicate or fatty acid derivatives added to keep the salt free flowing. It is a specification term and a regulated additive. |
| Iodisation and fortificationDeclared, with the compound and the level named | Where the salt is supplied as fortified food salt, the fortificant and the level required by the destination. |
| pH of a water extractpH units | Determined on a solution at the stated concentration. |
Physical properties
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bulk densityKilograms per cubic metre, loose and tapped | Sets the hold, the silo, the spreader calibration and the pack. |
| Angle of repose and flowabilityDegrees, and the flow rate through the stated orifice | Whether the salt will discharge from a hopper and spread evenly from a truck. |
| Caking tendencyReported against the named method | Measured after conditioning at stated humidity. It decides whether the cargo comes out of the hold as salt or as a slab. |
| Crystal habitDeclared, as cubic, dendritic, flake, granular or compressed | The crystal shape governs how the salt dissolves, how it sticks to a road surface and how it behaves in a food process. |
| Dissolution rateReported against the named method | How quickly the salt goes into solution, which is the working term for de-icing and for brine makeup. |
| Pellet crush strengthNewtons per pellet | For compressed water softener pellets and blocks, whether the pellet survives the bag and the brine tank without mushing. |
| Whiteness and colourReported in the CIE colour space | Specified on food, table and pharmaceutical grades. |
| HygroscopicityReported as mass gain at the stated humidity | It drives the pack specification and the storage terms. |
Particle size and sizing
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| GradationPercentage by mass passing and retained at each stated aperture | Determined on test sieves conforming to ISO 3310. For de-icing salt the gradation curve is the specification and it is what a highway authority buys against. |
| Top sizeMillimetres, maximum | Oversize jams a spreader and a feeder, so it is a rejection term. |
| Fines below the stated aperturePercentage by mass, maximum | Fines blow off the road and dust in the plant. |
| Median particle sizeMicrometres or millimetres | The central tendency of the distribution, quoted on fine and food grades. |
| Particle size distribution of fine gradesMicrometres, by percentile | Determined by laser diffraction under ISO 13320 where a fine or micronised grade is contracted. |
Contaminants and regulated substances
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and copper against the food grade salt standard or the pharmacopoeial monograph at the destination. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, maximum, with named absent organisms | For food, pharmaceutical and animal feed grades. |
| Food additive and food grade complianceDeclared, against the named standard | Food salt is supplied against the Codex Alimentarius standard for food grade salt and the food additive specification in force at the destination. |
| Pharmacopoeial compliancePass or fail against the named monograph | For pharmaceutical grade sodium chloride, the identity, purity and limit tests of the United States Pharmacopeia or the European Pharmacopoeia. |
| Environmental and application limitsDeclared | Where the destination sets limits on the ferrocyanide, the anticaking agent or the chloride load for de-icing use. |
| RadionuclidesBecquerels per kilogram | Screened where the destination requires it. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Form and packingDeclared | Bulk, big bags of a stated net weight, paper or polywoven bags palletised and shrink wrapped, or containerised bulk in liners. The pack is a price term because it drives the handling cost at both ends. |
| Moisture at loadingPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying on a loading sample. Moisture is paid for as mineral unless the contract sets a dry weight basis, so it is always specified. |
| Weight basisDeclared | Wet or dry metric tonnes, on shipped weight or landed weight, with the survey house named and the draft survey or weighbridge method stated. |
| Sampling and assay protocolDeclared | Who samples, at which point, to what standard, how the sample is split and sealed, and which laboratory umpires a dispute. It is agreed before loading, not after. |
| Transportable moisture limitPercentage by mass | Where the cargo is a group A material under the maritime bulk cargoes code, the flow moisture point and the transportable moisture limit are certified before loading. |
| Safety data sheetDocument, to the globally harmonised system format | Classification, handling and respirable crystalline silica statement, supplied with every consignment. |
| Certificate of analysisDocument, per lot | Issued by the named laboratory against the contract specification, referencing the lot and the sampling record. |
| Regulatory registrationDeclared | Chemical registration at the destination where the mineral requires one, named on the contract. |
| Origin and due diligenceDeclared, with the mine or plant named | Country of origin, the mine or processing plant, and where required the responsible sourcing statement. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Western Europe | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Northwest Europe | Destination and trading hub |
| United Kingdom | Northern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Western Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Portugal | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Poland | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Czechia | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Eastern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Russian Federation | Eurasia | Origin and destination |
| Kazakhstan | Central Asia | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Europe and Anatolia | Origin and destination |
| Greece | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Algeria | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tunisia | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Senegal | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Ghana | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania, United Republic of | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| South Africa | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Namibia | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Zimbabwe | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Bolivia, Plurinational State of | South America | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Korea, Republic of | East Asia | Destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Viet Nam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Trading and finance |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | Trading and finance |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Destination and trading hub |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Qatar | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Oman | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Belgium | Northwest Europe | Destination |
| Uganda | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Madagascar | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Production is when the mineral is mined and processed at origin, which follows the mine plan and the weather at the pit rather than a crop season. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is drying, grading, bagging and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecThe largest producer, from lake, rock and sea salt, with output following the chlor alkali sector rather than a crop season. |
| United States | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecRock salt from the Great Lakes and Gulf coast domes, solar salt from the west, and vacuum evaporated production, weighted to the winter de-icing programme. |
| India | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Jun, arrival Nov to JulGujarat and Tamil Nadu solar salt works, harvesting in the dry months and stopping through the monsoon. | ||
| Australia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival May to JanThe Pilbara and Western Australian solar fields, the benchmark high purity solar salt for the Asian chemical industry, harvested in the dry season. | |
| Chile | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecNorthern desert production, both rock and solar, shipping to the Americas and to Asia. |
| Mexico | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Oct, arrival Apr to DecGuerrero Negro and the Baja solar fields, one of the largest solar salt operations, harvested through the dry season. | |
| Germany | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecRock and vacuum evaporated production from the central European salt basins, supplying the chemical industry and the winter road programme. |
| Netherlands | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecSolution mined and vacuum evaporated production and a major trading and transhipment hub for the North Sea market. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and tonnage already sitting in a destination warehouse or terminal.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for salt. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading2501.00 Salt and pure sodium chloride, whether or not in aqueous solution
- PackingBulk in a lined container, 1 t big bags, or 25 kg to 50 kg paper or PP bags on pallets. Moisture and particle size distribution stated on the certificate of analysis at load.
- Container loading20ft: 26 t to 28 t bulk or big bag. Weight limited well before volume. Check the road weight limit at the destination before fixing the box size.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on typical analysis with a certificate of analysis at load port and an umpire clause. ASTM and API specifications where they exist, including API 13A for drilling grade barite and bentonite. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsFood grade salt to the Codex standard and, in the EU, the food additive purity criteria of Regulation 231/2012, with heavy metal limits. Iodisation is mandatory in many destinations. Industrial, de-icing and pharmacopoeia grades carry separate specifications and separate tariff treatment, so the intended end use must be declared at import.
Common questions
What grades of salt does SIP Global trade?
We quote 40 published grades of salt, including Production route - Declared, as rock salt, vacuum evaporated, or solar salt, Sodium chloride - Percentage by mass, on a dry basis, Matter insoluble in water - Percentage by mass, maximum, Calcium and magnesium - Percentage by mass, maximum, as the ions or the sulphate and chloride salts, Sulphate - Percentage by mass, maximum and Moisture - Percentage by mass, maximum. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is salt graded?
A salt contract turns on the sodium chloride assay, on the insoluble and calcium and magnesium impurities that follow the production route, and on the sizing, because a de-icing gradation, a compressed pellet and a fine food grade are separate products. Grading runs on 5 systems: Chemical assay, Physical properties, Particle size and sizing, Contaminants and regulated substances and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade salt?
We trade salt in China, United States, India, Germany, Canada, Australia, Chile and Mexico and 53 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is salt harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are China: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; United States: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; India: harvest oct to jun, arrival nov to jul; Australia: harvest mar to nov, arrival may to jan; Chile: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for salt?
Salt is normally classified under HS 2501.00 (salt and pure sodium chloride, whether or not in aqueous solution). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for salt?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed salt market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- Codex AlimentariusFAO and WHO food standards
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.