Facts & figures
Traditionally the world’s largest salt producer, the U.S. was surpassed in 2007 by China. Each produce about 50 million tons of salt, combining for 40% of total world salt production.
U.S. salt production has become more efficient. At the time of the U.S. Civil War, 3,000 workers produced over 225,000 tons of salt in the United States. Today, there is a third more workers, but they produce 100 times more salt.
Worldwide, salt production tracks consumption which, in turn, reflects population growth (food salt) and industrial development (chemical salt, salt for animal nutrition, roadway safety, water conditioning, etc. Salt production globally was about 250 million tons in 2006.
For historical statistics: