China's Raw Salt Trade Drops in Early 2026, India Leads Imports

China's raw salt imports and exports both declined in early 2026, according to the latest customs data, reflecting weaker trade volumes across key supply and destination markets.

In February 2026, China imported 1.306 million metric tons of raw salt, down 1.7% year-on-year. India remained the dominant supplier, accounting for 1.065 million tons, or 81.6% of total imports, followed by Australia with 239,000 tons, representing 18.3%.

China's raw salt exports in February totaled 70,000 tons, a decrease of 13.3% compared with the same period last year. Japan was the leading export destination, receiving 47,000 tons, or 66.5% of total shipments. Ghana and North Korea followed, importing 7,000 tons (9.5%) and 5,000 tons (7.3%), respectively.

For the first two months of 2026, China's raw salt imports reached 2.448 million tons, marking a 5.7% year-on-year decline. India supplied 1.912 million tons, accounting for 78.1% of total imports, while Australia contributed 531,000 tons (21.7%) and Pakistan 5,000 tons (0.2%).

Over the same period, China exported 185,000 tons of raw salt, down 10.2% year-on-year. Japan remained the top destination, with imports totaling 128,000 tons, representing 69.0% of China's exports. South Korea and Ghana followed with 17,000 tons (9.0%) and 7,000 tons (3.6%), respectively.

The data highlights China's continued reliance on India and Australia for raw salt imports, while exports remain concentrated in East Asian markets, particularly Japan.