Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water

HS code 250100 covers a wide range of salt products, including table salt, denatured salt, and pure sodium chloride. Salt is a fundamental mineral commodity with a diverse range of applications across various industries. It plays a crucial role in the global economy, serving as a key ingredient in food production, chemical manufacturing, and even de-icing processes. The salt industry is a mature and well-established sector, with a global market size estimated at billions of dollars annually.

The production of salt primarily involves the extraction and refinement of salt from natural sources, such as salt mines, salt lakes, and seawater. The most common production methods include solar evaporation, rock salt mining, and solution mining. In solar evaporation, seawater or brine is allowed to evaporate in large, shallow ponds, leaving behind salt crystals. Rock salt mining involves the extraction of solid salt deposits from underground mines, while solution mining utilizes hot water to dissolve and extract salt from underground deposits.

The main inputs required for the salt industry include natural salt deposits, energy sources (such as fossil fuels or renewable energy) for the evaporation and refining processes, and specialized equipment for mining, processing, and packaging. Additionally, the industry may rely on transportation infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and ports, to facilitate the movement of raw materials and finished products.

The primary outputs of the salt industry are various types of salt products, including table salt, industrial salt, and specialty salts. These salt products are widely used in 240300 Food industry, 281512 Chemical industry, and 251990 Other industries, such as de-icing, water treatment, and various manufacturing processes. The salt industry's outputs are essential for meeting the global demand for this ubiquitous mineral commodity.