From production to market (logistics)

Economics dictate that salt production facilities are often located at a distance from salt’s point of use. Transporting this heavy, relatively low-cost material can add a substantial increment to the final cost consumers pay. A cubic yard of bulk salt weighs about a ton. As a result, moving salt by water, when available, is usually the least expensive means to move the product to market.

In developed economies, many companies market over a vast area, sometimes multi-nationally. Company terminals and warehouses are an integral part of their logistics system for packaged salt products. Huge stockpiles, sometimes upwards of 100,000 tons are used to ensure cost-effective delivery of bulk salt, most of it destined for roadway safety application. Salt is sold directly to final-use customers like roadway operations agencies, to retailers who sell to the final user, to independent wholesale-distributors who furnish their own market channels and to industries who use the salt as a feedstock or processing agent in their manufacturing or other industrial operations.