In frozen Europe, Gujarat salt provides some warmth

RAJKOT: The prolonged frozen spell in Europe and the US, a phenomenon triggered by unusually high temperatures in Arctic, has come as a boon to salt manufacturers from Gujarat.
For the past three years, the salt export from Gujarat has significantly shot up with the major chunk being used in de-icing the roads in countries reeling under heavy snowfall. The state accounts for 90% of the salt exported from India.
De-icing is the process of removing snow or ice from the surface of the roads, mostly done by using sodium chloride or other chemicals. Salt or sodium chloride is preferred as it is inexpensive. This is done to prevent fatal accidents caused by slippery roads in sub-zero conditions.

This salt made in Gujarat is routed through China to the European and American countries and Russia due to lesser logistics cost.
Official data of Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA) shows that the export from Gujarat to China has increased from 22.17 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 to 48 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.
Bharat Raval, president, ISMA said, “It’s faster to send salt for de-icing from China to Europe and Russia and the logistics cost is less. China has increased the salt import from India and it also exports its inferior quality salt for deicing in Polar countries.”
“The US is very concerned about human deaths and road accidents due to snowfall. The country has expedited de-icing of the roads. Earlier, inferior quality of salt is used for de-icing, but they have started using even good or industrial quality salt now,” said Raval.
Shamji Kangad, a salt manufacturer and exporter in Kutch, said, “The demand of salt made in Gujarat in the international market has jumped because it is the cheapest chemical used in de-icing. Generally, the salt export for de-icing starts from September. During this period, the salt export touches around 7-8 lakh tonnes per month from the average four lakh tonnes.”