Salt, pure NaCl and sea water market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian salt market volume remained high at 2.1 million tons in 2018, supported by state-owned Salrom's approved investment plan to expand production. A sharp contraction to 816 thousand tons followed in 2020, primarily driven by a mild winter that significantly reduced demand for de-icing salt, a key revenue segment for Salrom.

Market volume recovered to 1 million tons in 2021 as Salrom increased production efficiency under its 2016-2020 optimization plan. That year also saw the first step toward breaking the long-standing monopoly, with Salzbergwerk Ressourcen und Investitiones securing a license for the Nireș salt perimeter. The war in Ukraine in 2022 created a regional supply gap, leading Salrom to significantly boost exports, such as shipping 200 thousand tons of de-icing salt to Hungary, while domestic market volume adjusted to 879 thousand tons.

Salrom continued to benefit from regional market imbalances in 2023, reporting a 64.8% increase in de-icing salt revenue from the prior year. By 2024, the market volume stabilized around 747 thousand tons as the government approved two new salt exploitation licenses for a domestic firm and a Hungarian-controlled company, and Salrom inaugurated a new Sandvick combine at the Slănic Prahova mine to enhance production capacity and worker safety.

Production salt, pure NaCl and sea water in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Romania's production of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 51,151 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp 28.4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2018-2020 period, production fell by 42.7%, with an average annual decline of 16.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Romania ranked as the 26th largest producer of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater from 2017 to 2020.

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

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

Market performance showed significant fluctuations during this period. Production volumes varied widely, with a 4.4-fold difference between the low in 2017 and the high in 2018. In 2020, Romania produced 1,092 thousand tonnes, a sharp 44.7% drop from the previous year. The lowest output was recorded in 2017 at 553 thousand tonnes, while the largest increase occurred in 2018, surging by 341.1%.

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

Exports salt, pure NaCl and sea water from Romania

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Romania exported 453.7 thousand tonnes of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater, a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 18%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 6.4%. The lowest export volume was in 2018 at 447.3 thousand tonnes, with the largest drop that year at 19.2%. Exports saw a modest increase in 2019, rising by 3.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Hungary remained the primary export market in volume terms, accounting for 82.8% of total exports. The remaining volume was distributed among various other destinations.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of decline, Romania's exports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater increased in value. In 2020, exports reached 21,413 thousand US dollars, up 2.4% from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 12.1%, with an average annual decline of 4.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 20,906 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest drop of 9.0%.

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

During 2017-2020, Hungary dominated exports in value terms, capturing 75.1% of total flows. The rest was spread across a fragmented group of other markets.

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

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

Imports salt, pure NaCl and sea water to Romania

Imports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, Romania's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater declined. In 2020, imports stood at 178.6 thousand tonnes, a robust 17.2% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 38%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.3%. The peak was in 2019 at 215.7 thousand tonnes, which also recorded the largest increase of 38.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Ukraine (30.7% of imports in volume), Turkey (19.0%), and Austria (15.4%) were the top suppliers of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater to Romania. Together, they accounted for 65.1% of total imports in volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of increase, Romania's imports of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater in value terms declined. In 2020, imports reached 24,465 thousand US dollars, a solid 10.4% contraction from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 57.6%, with an average annual increase of 16.4%. The highest value was in 2019 at 27,315 thousand US dollars, while the largest rise occurred in 2018 at 37.1%.

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

In 2017-2020, Greece (20.7% of imports in value), Austria (18.3%), and Turkey (12.6%) were the main suppliers of salt, pure NaCl, and seawater to Romania. Combined, they formed 51.6% of total imports in value terms.

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

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