World salt consumption increased to an estimated 190-205 million tonnes in 2000 in response to higher demand in southeast Asia and other developing regions, according to London-based Roskill Information Services.
According to the report Economics of Salt (10th edition), worldwide consumption is expected to rise by 2-3% per year in the immediate future.
The salt markets in North America and western Europe are expanding at a little below the average international growth rate. Each of North America, Asia and the Middle East accounts for 30-35% of the total, whereas western Europe accounts for 21%.
The report predicts that salt consumption will gradually diminish in western Europe and North America and increase in the growing markets of the Asia Pacific region, which is dominated Chinese and Australian production. Consumption there benefits from a growing chemical market and high demand for salt in food from an expanding population.
In contrast, the production rate in Western Europe, where Germany, France and the U.K. are the main producers, is declining, largely due to a mature chemicals sector and lower demand from chlor-alkalis.
The chlor-alkali industry uses salt in the production of chlorine and caustic soda. Demand for chlorine is dominated by the vinyls sector (especially polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), which accounts for 36% of the market.
Another factor affecting these predictions is the environmental concern related to the manufacture and disposal of PVC. Although no direct legislation against PVC has been ratified, bans have been considered by some national and regional governments.
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