Vietnam to import 400,000 tonnes of salt this year

According to a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development report, Vietnam’s salt output this year will be around 900,000-950,000 tonnes, so the country will have to import nearly 400,000 tonnes of salt to balance supply and demand.

The report, released on July 22, says that salt production was not favourable in the first half of 2008 due to hard weather. Salt output in some places fell by 30% compared to the same period of 2007. As of June 18, 2008, Vietnam’s salt output was just 539,000 tonnes.

The Ministry estimated that the total salt output this year will be between 900,000 and 950,000 tonnes, around 150,000-200,000 tonnes less than expected while the demand for salt increases.

In the January-May period, Vietnam imported 150,000-160,000 tonnes of salt, worth $9.92 million (reaching around 70% of granted quotas).

The Ministry said that to ensure the balance between supply and demand of salt, the government needs to allow the import of an additional 200,000 tonnes of salt, raising the total to nearly 400,000 tonnes.

VNN

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