Salt Industry News

Making up for the mild second half of the winter of 2005-2006, US highway salt sales roared back to 10.9 million tons in the first half of 2007, up 62.5% from January-June 2006. Revenues grew even faster: 85.1%.

Overall, US salt sales for the six months increased to 16.3 million tons, up 37.4%, and revenues grew 30.4% to $832 million.

All of the increase was in rock sales to keep the nation's highways safe and passable. Rock salt sales climbed 57.2% and associated revenues by 76.4%. In contrast, evaporated salt sales were absolutely flat (they fell 1,000 tons from 2.106 million to 2.105 million tons). Solar salt managed a 9.3% tonnage increase. Revenues rose for both: evap sales advancing 8.8% and solar sales by 14.1%.

The only market decline was water softening tonnage which slipped 9% to 1.57 million tons. Chemicals salt sales reversed a prolonged slide, gaining 18.4% to 941,000 tons. Salt for human and animal consumption rose, respectively by 2.6% and 3.4% (790,000 tons of food salt and 802,000 tons of ag salt).

The Salt Instiutute has been reporting salt industry sales statistics since 1977.

No need to wait for Gen. Petreaus' report in September. THIS surge IS working.

Posted by Dick Hanneman at 03:51 PM | Permalink

Ensuring salt industry antitrust compliance is a primary element of the Salt Institute's program and raising non-US anti-competitive rules for a globally-consistent playing field is a desirable outcome. Therefore, news today that China may soon complete a protracted, 13-year effort to enact its new Anti-Monopoly Law is good news indeed.

China Daily reported:

Shang Ming, head of the Department of Treaty and Law under the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on August 1 yesterday that the drafting of China's Anti-monopoly Law was near completion, signaling the law's passing is imminent.

The Anti-Monopoly Law will act to protect fair competition, punish monopolistic behaviors, and help build a well-regulated marketplace.

The draft defines basic concepts, and stipulates anti-trust enforcement agencies' structure and responsibility, investigation procedure, and their legal liabilities.

The draft draws on earlier international anti-trust laws and well combines China's economic conditions, said Shang Ming.

China began drafting its Anti-Monopoly Law in 1994 and the first draft was completed in 2003. The draft is set to undergo its third review by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress this month.

Posted by Dick Hanneman at 04:53 PM | Permalink