Salt, pure NaCl and sea water market in Angola

Earlier Report Observations

The Angolan salt market grew from 118 thousand tons in 2018 to 192 thousand tons in 2020, a surge supported by regulatory and investment actions. In 2019, a decree prohibited imports of iodated table salt in packages over 250 g to safeguard public health and encourage domestic production. This was followed in 2020 by the announced reduction of value-added tax on salt from 14% to 7%, lowering consumer prices and stimulating demand. Simultaneously, the dominant state-influenced producer Salinas Calombolo expanded its daily output to about 1 thousand tons, directly boosting national production capacity.

Market volume reached 211 thousand tons in 2021 and stabilized near 209 thousand tons in 2022. This plateau coincided with public and private investments in Benguela salt pans, which pushed production toward the national target of 120 thousand tons per year. However, operational bottlenecks—such as scarce packaging and refining lines—limited further growth. The full implementation of the VAT cut in 2022 kept consumer prices down, but rising costs for imported packaging materials and spare parts, coupled with currency depreciation, pressured producers’ margins and contributed to a sharp drop in formal imports to under 1 thousand tons.

In the following years, the market continued to be shaped by regulatory enforcement and price pressures. A presidential decree in 2023 simplified business licensing, easing the opening of new retail outlets for salt. At the same time, inflation driven by fuel price hikes and a steep currency devaluation pushed salt prices up by more than 40% in the informal market and 20% in formal channels. By 2024, the closure of informal salt pans in Benguela removed some competition, while new industrial salt projects in Tômbwa were planned to create jobs and increase domestic capacity. These developments occurred alongside a sustained decline in imports, which fell to 0.7 thousand tons in 2024.

Production salt, pure NaCl and sea water in Angola

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

World map of production of salt, pure NaCl and sea water, 2017-2020

In 2020, Angola produced 164.4 thousand tons of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water, marking a sharp 50.8% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 62.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 17.6%. The only decline during this period occurred in 2019, when production fell by 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Angola in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports salt, pure NaCl and sea water from Angola

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility throughout the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, showing a dramatic 12,559-fold increase between these years. In 2020, Angola exported 1,820 tons of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water, representing an 89.4% decline from 2019. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 17,143 tons, while the largest percentage increase occurred in 2018 with a staggering 16,301.1% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Angola's exports in kind were heavily concentrated, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for 92.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export values in monetary terms reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 171-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Angola's salt, pure NaCl, and sea water exports amounted to 223 thousand US dollars, a 76.1% decrease year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 933 thousand US dollars, while the largest percentage increase occurred in 2018 with 1,356.9% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017–2020 period, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remained the dominant destination for Angola's exports in value terms, capturing 88.5% of total export flows, with the remainder fragmented across other markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Angola in value, 2017-2020

Imports salt, pure NaCl and sea water to Angola

Imports in kind, t

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Import volumes in kind dropped to their minimum in 2018 and reached their maximum in 2017, showing an 8.6-fold difference. In 2020, Angola's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water totaled 29,765 tons, indicating a slight 0.8% decline year-over-year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 7,741 tons. The largest percentage decline occurred in 2018 with an 88.4% drop, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 with 287.7% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, India (32.1% of imports in kind), Namibia (22.4%), and China (18.4%) were the leading sources for Angola's imports in kind, together accounting for 72.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Market behavior showed volatility during these years. Import values in monetary terms reached their trough in 2018 and peaked in 2017, with a 7.6-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Angola's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water amounted to 4,847 thousand US dollars, showing a 3.6% advance compared to the prior year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 2,079 thousand US dollars. The largest percentage decline occurred in 2018 with an 86.9% drop, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 with 124.9% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017–2020 period, Portugal (24.4% of imports in value terms), India (24.0%), and Namibia (21.3%) formed the main group of sources for Angola's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and sea water in value terms, together accounting for 69.8% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Angola in value, 2017-2020