Export volume of edible salt from China 2017-2023

China exported approximately 811,500 metric tons of edible salt in 2023, indicating a year-over-year growth of nearly 27 percent. In contrast, China's import volume of edible salt totaled to around 145,500 metric tons.

Salt production in China

China remained the world’s largest salt producer in 2023, with a production volume of over 60 thousand metric tons. In light of China's complex geographical conditions, salt is produced from a variety of sources, including salt lakes, salt wells, and sea water. That year, Shandong produced the most crude salt among all regions, followed by Jiangsu and Qinghai. The majority of salt produced in China was for industrial uses, while edible salt only accounts for about 12 percent of the total salt production. 

China’s salt exports

Despite its massive production, salt production in China primarily serves high domestic needs. In 2023, China only ranked seventh in salt exports. Salt exported from China was mainly shipped to its neighboring countries, such as South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.