Salt exports from DPT soar 66% in Q1

Rajkot: Salt exports from Deendayal Port, earlier known as Kandla Port, have seen a nearly 66% increase in the first quarter of 2024-25 compared to the same period last year.
The growth has been attributed to the govt policy permitting extraction of natural salt deposits near Khavda in the Greater Rann of Kutch. The policy was met with strong opposition by traditional salt manufacturers, who feared the move would affect their business.

According to Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), it handles over 80% of Gujarat’s salt exports and the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year itself saw 39.39 lakh metric tonnes exported.This figure was 23.71 lakh metric tonnes in the same period of 2023-24.
Bharat Raval, president of the Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA), stated, “Earlier, the natural salt deposited in the Greater Rann of Kutch was not allowed to be extracted. Govt allowed the salt to be exported after Covid-19 and this is the reason behind the increased exports. Another reason is China reducing its salt production from 800 lakh metric tonnes to 600 metric lakh tonnes, creating demand within its industry.” Sources said that extracting salt near Khavda, which is logistically closer to the port, costs only Rs 25 per tonne enabling cheaper exports, compared to traditional production salt which costs Rs 225 per tonne.
Sea water in Kori Creek has led to natural formation of thick salt layers over time, with some domes reaching nearly 15 feet in height. These layers span about 80sq km in Khavda in the greater Rann of Kutch. However, salt manufacturers had opposed the govt decision to allow its extraction.
“Some bromine manufacturing companies got the lease on the land and are extracting the natural salt. We opposed this move because this salt is not produced but extracted from land which falls under the definition of mining. Govt should not allow them to extract the salt for free as a by-product of bromine but should be auctioned like any other mining product because it’s a natural resource.” said a salt exporter requesting anonymity.
According to DPA, out of the total 39 lakh metric tonnes exported from April to June, 16.63 lakh metric tonnes were exported in June alone.
S K Singh, the newly appointed chairman of DPA, said, “Our dedicated team’s meticulous planning and efficient operations have made it possible to surpass the previous record of highest export in one month of 12.84 lakh metric tonnes in Jan 2024. We are working to make this port a preferred port of call for shipping lines.”