Global Industrial Sodium Chloride Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037
Industrial Sodium Chloride Market size was valued at USD 18.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 28.8 billion by the end of 2037, rising at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of industrial sodium chloride is assessed at USD 19.4 billion.
Industrial sodium chloride finds extensive use across various sectors, including water treatment, chemical processing, pharmaceutical products, and textile manufacturing, which makes it an essential supply element for different manufacturing sectors. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that industrial sectors are the major consumers with over 43 million metric tons of salt production in the country during 2023. The industrial sodium chloride market will experience growth because of the increasing chlor-alkali industry alongside growing worldwide requirements for water treatment. Several governments have prioritized self-sufficiency in chemical raw materials, as evidenced by import substitution programs and domestic producer subsidies.
Industrial Sodium Chloride Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
-
Chemical industry expansion: The chemical industry is a major consumer of industrial sodium chloride, primarily for the production of chlor-alkali. According to the USGS, this segment consumes more than 42% of domestic salt production. The global chemical industry is expected to reach a 4.4% CAGR through 2030, directly increasing the consumption of sodium chloride. In addition, sodium chloride is required for the production of chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen, which are building blocks for a variety of downstream industries, thus driving up demand.
- Sustainability & carbon footprint reduction: Sodium chloride plays a critical role in chemical processes transitioning to greener technology. Major key players are investing in catalytic membrane electrolysis, which decreases power consumption by 22-26% as compared to mercury-cell technologies. All this aligns with international sustainability objectives and is appealing to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-conscious producers, making sodium chloride a leading industrial feedstock because of its minimal carbon footprint.
- Vitality of Expanding Operational and Manufacturing Capacities
Increased operating and production capacities in the industrial sodium chloride industry are necessary to cater to rising global demand from various industries like food processing, chemicals, water treatment, and de-icing. For example, Tata Chemicals intends to enhance its edible salt capacity by 1.6 times over the next 5 to 7 years to support the expansion of soda ash and edible salt capacities. Similarly, Compass Minerals operates the world's largest rock salt mine, with an underground mining capacity of 12.6 million short tons per year. These expansions are critical for addressing supply chain risks and ensuring consistent product availability across multiple sectors. The tables below represent producers' data on industrial sodium chloride.
Top 10 Global Industrial Sodium Chloride Producers
|
Company Name |
Country |
Annual Production Capacity (Million Metric Tons) |
Key Plant Locations |
Strategic Differentiators |
|
China National Salt Industry Corp |
China |
72 |
Multiple locations across China |
Largest producer globally; extensive domestic distribution network |
|
Cargill Inc. |
USA |
19 |
USA, Australia, Mexico |
Vertical integration; diversified product portfolio |
|
K+S AG |
Germany |
15 |
Germany, Canada, USA |
Focus on specialty applications; significant investment in high-purity NaCl production |
|
Compass Minerals |
USA |
14.9 |
Goderich (Canada), Ogden (USA), Winsford (UK) |
Largest rock salt mine; diversified production methods including solar and mechanical |
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
India |
2.6 |
Mithapur (India), Magadi (Kenya), Northwich (UK) |
Geographically diversified; plans to increase edible salt capacities by 1.5x |
|
Exportadora de Sal S.A. |
Mexico |
8 |
Guerrero Negro (Mexico) |
One of the world's largest solar salt facilities |
|
Salins Group |
France |
5 |
Aigues-Mortes, Salin-de-Giraud (France) |
Focus on sea salt production; extensive European market presence |
|
AkzoNobel (Nouryon) |
Netherlands |
3.6 |
Hengelo (Netherlands), Mariager (Denmark) |
Specialty chemicals focus; recent expansion in Brazil to support pulp and paper industry |
|
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. |
Japan |
2.6 |
Various locations in Japan |
Diversified trading and manufacturing operations |
|
INEOS Enterprises |
UK |
3 |
Cheshire (UK), Runcorn (UK) |
Integrated chemical production; focus on chlor-alkali products |
Global Production Volumes by Leading Producers (2019–2024)
|
Producer |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (Est.) |
CAGR (2019–2024) |
|
China National Salt Industry Corp |
87 |
89 |
91 |
93 |
96 |
98 |
2.5% |
|
Cargill Inc. |
16 |
15.6 |
17 |
16.6 |
18 |
17.6 |
3.2% |
|
K+S AG |
15 |
14.3 |
14.6 |
14.8 |
16 |
15.3 |
1.8% |
|
Compass Minerals |
13 |
12.4 |
12.6 |
12.9 |
14 |
13.3 |
2.2% |
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
4.3% |
|
Exportadora de Sal S.A. |
10 |
9.2 |
9.3 |
9.4 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
1.2% |
|
Salins Group |
5 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
2.5% |
|
AkzoNobel (Nouryon) |
3.6 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
2.8% |
|
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.8% |
|
INEOS Enterprises |
3 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
4.7% |
Volumes are in million metric tons.
Year-over-Year Growth Rates (%)
|
Producer |
2019–2020 |
2020–2021 |
2021–2022 |
2022–2023 |
2023–2024 (Est.) |
|
China National Salt Industry Corp |
2.4% |
2.4% |
2.3% |
3.4% |
2.2% |
|
Cargill Inc. |
3.4% |
3.3% |
3.2% |
3.1% |
3.0% |
|
K+S AG |
1.5% |
2.2% |
1.5% |
2.1% |
1.4% |
|
Compass Minerals |
2.6% |
1.7% |
2.5% |
1.7% |
1.6% |
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
4.6% |
4.4% |
4.3% |
4.1% |
3.9% |
|
Exportadora de Sal S.A. |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.2% |
|
Salins Group |
2.6% |
2.5% |
2.5% |
2.4% |
2.4% |
|
AkzoNobel (Nouryon) |
3.0% |
2.9% |
2.8% |
2.7% |
2.7% |
|
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. |
4.1% |
3.9% |
3.8% |
3.7% |
3.5% |
|
INEOS Enterprises |
5.1% |
4.9% |
4.6% |
4.4% |
4.3% |
2. Production Capacity Analysis for Industrial Sodium Chloride
Major companies in global industrial sodium chloride production include CNSIC, Cargill, and K+S AG, which have combined annual capacities of about 150 million metric tons. Solar evaporation, rock salt mining, and vacuum pan evaporation are among the production processes used. China leads in output, followed by the U.S., Germany, and India, with sizable capabilities. Strategic plant locations and diverse processes support global supply networks. the table below highlights the production capacity of industrial sodium chloride.
Top Global Producers by Capacity, Location, and Process
|
Company |
Country |
Key Plant Locations |
Production Capacity (Million Metric Tons/Year) |
Production Process |
|
China National Salt Industry Corp |
China |
Multiple locations across China |
87 |
Solar evaporation, mining |
|
Cargill Inc. |
USA |
Louisiana, Michigan, New York |
16 |
Mining, vacuum pan evaporation |
|
K+S AG |
Germany |
Germany, Canada |
15 |
Mining |
|
Compass Minerals |
USA |
Kansas, Louisiana, Ontario (Canada) |
13 |
Mining, solar evaporation |
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
India |
Mithapur (India), Magadi (Kenya), Green River (USA) |
5.2 |
Solar evaporation, mining |
|
Exportadora de Sal S.A. |
Mexico |
Guerrero Negro |
10 |
Solar evaporation |
|
Groupe Salins |
France |
France, Spain, Italy |
5 |
Solar, thermal, mining |
|
AkzoNobel (Nouryon) |
Netherlands |
Netherlands, Germany |
3.6 |
Vacuum pan evaporation |
|
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. |
Japan |
Japan, Southeast Asia |
2.6 |
Various |
|
INEOS Enterprises |
UK |
UK, Germany |
3 |
Vacuum pan evaporation |
3. Japan Industrial Sodium Chloride Market Outlook
Advances in high-performance materials and a strategic shift towards specialty chemicals are driving a significant transformation in Japan's industrial sodium chloride sector. The need for lightweight materials drove a 9% yearly increase in chemical industry shipments to the automotive sector between 2018 and 2023. Petrochemicals registered a revenue of ¥13 trillion in 2022. Major companies like Mitsubishi Chemical and Shin-Etsu Chemical are investing heavily in R&D, capital spending, focusing on digitalization and green technologies. Mitsubishi Chemical invested ¥152 billion in R&D in 2022, prioritizing development in bioplastics. By investing strategically following global trends, Japan's chemical sector is more likely to meet evolving requirements of industries like automobiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. The tables below shows shipment details of industrial sodium chloride.
Composition of Industrial Sodium Chloride-Based Products Shipped (Japan, 2019–2023)
|
Year |
Petrochemicals (%) |
Polymers (%) |
Specialty Chemicals (%) |
Total Shipments (¥ Trillion) |
|
2019 |
45 |
31 |
27 |
26.2 |
|
2020 |
44 |
32 |
27 |
25.6 |
|
2021 |
46 |
31 |
26 |
27.2 |
|
2022 |
46 |
31 |
26 |
27.6 |
|
2023 |
47 |
30 |
26 |
28.2 |
Value of Industrial Sodium Chloride Chemical Shipments by Manufacturing Industry (Japan, 2018–2023)
|
Industry |
2018 (¥ Trillion) |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
CAGR (2018–2023) |
|
Automotive |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
8.1% |
|
Electronics |
2.6 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
8.3% |
|
Pharmaceuticals |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
2.7 |
7.7% |
R&D Expenses and Capital Investment Trends in Industrial Sodium Chloride Industry (Japan, 2019–2023)
|
Company |
R&D Spending 2022 (¥ Billion) |
Focus Areas |
|
Mitsubishi Chemical |
152 |
Bioplastics, Sustainability |
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical |
152 |
Semiconductor Materials, Sustainability |
|
Sumitomo Chemical |
122 |
Specialty Chemicals, Digitalization |
Capital Investment Trends in Japan’s Industrial Sodium Chloride Chemical Industry (2018–2023)
Japan's industrial sodium chloride chemical industry increased capital investment in line with global sustainability goals between 2018 and 2023. Some Japanese businesses are focusing on digitalization, clean technology, and capacity expansion. Additionally, Capital investments amounted to ¥3.6 trillion in 2022, wherein 31% went to research and development (R&D) and green technology. Companies in Europe and the U.S. globally spent over 36% on projects incorporating sustainability, considering Japan's close correlation with its global peers.
Leading Japanese Companies by Capital Investment (2023)
|
Company |
Total Capital Investment (¥ Billion) |
Sustainability & R&D (%) |
|
Mitsubishi Chemical |
522 |
36% |
|
Shin-Etsu Chemical |
482 |
33% |
|
Sumitomo Chemical |
452 |
31% |
Challenges
-
Market access barriers: Restrictions on trade and tariffs by regulatory bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) restrict exports of sodium chloride. Postponements in China of new standards on safety took industrial sodium chloride chemicals six months to enter the industrial sodium chloride market in 2022.
- Sustainability and waste management: Regulations of waste disposal and ecologically friendly mining operations impose costs of operation. The U.S. salt mining industry is environmentally under scrutiny, forcing businesses towards solar evaporation methods.
Industrial Sodium Chloride Market: Key Insights
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
|
Base Year |
2024 |
|
Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
|
CAGR |
4.2% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 18.5 billion |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 28.8 billion |
|
Regional Scope |
|
Industrial Sodium Chloride Segmentation
Application (Chemical Processing, De-icing, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas Drilling, Agriculture)
The chemical processing segment is predicted to gain the largest industrial sodium chloride market share of 38.5% during the projected period by 2037. Industrial sodium chloride finds widespread application as a feedstock in chlor-alkali operations to generate chlorine and caustic soda, which are both vital in the production of PVC, paper, and textiles. Expansion is spurred by increasing global demand for chlorine derivatives as well as growing industrialization across Asia-Pacific.
End use (Water Treatment, Food Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Manufacturing, Oil & Gas)
The water treatment segment is anticipated to hold a 27.2% industrial sodium chloride market share by 2037. Sodium chloride is a key component in water softening and disinfection treatment, particularly in municipal and industrial water systems. Growing demand for clean water in urbanizing countries and tightening water regulations are among the primary drivers of demand for this segment.
Our in-depth analysis of the global industrial sodium chloride market includes the following segments:
|
Application |
|
|
End use |
|
|
Product Type |
|
|
Distribution Channel |
|
|
Grade |
|
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Customize this ReportIndustrial Sodium Chloride Industry - Regional Synopsis
North America Market Forecast
North America will hold around 34.7% of the overall industrial sodium chloride market share by 2037 and grow at a CAGR of 3.9%. This is primarily driven by the strong base of chemical production, steady demand in water treatment, and ongoing infrastructure development.
The U.S. chemicals industry relies heavily on sodium chloride for chlor-alkali production, deicing, and industrial processing. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) indicates that over $1.4 billion in 2022 was invested in chemical process efficiency and clean energy projects, a 46% increase from levels experienced in 2020. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Chemistry program initiated over 51 new green chemical processes in 2023, leading to a reduction in hazardous waste by 28% in 2021.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has also supported research aimed at enhancing salt-based chemical process reliability and environmental safety. This is important for improving supply chain resilience and emissions reduction in industrial manufacturing processes. Moreover, in Canada, chemical safety programs and sustainability funding rose by 37% from 2020 to 2023, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada. These policies support the stability of sodium chloride demand, especially in deicing and water treatment applications.
Europe Market Statistics
The European industrial sodium chloride market is expected to increase consistently based on its vast applications in chemical production, water treatment, and food processing. The market size was USD 17.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period of 2025-2030. Major drivers are rising demand for chlor-alkali products in France and Germany, government spending on desalination facilities in Spain and Italy, and environmental laws promoting eco-friendly sodium chloride extraction processes. In 2023, the UK spent 8% of its environmental budget on sustainable chemical projects, an improvement from 5.6% in 2020. France spent 7% of its industrial budget on Industrial Sodium Chloride chemicals in 2023, compared to 4.9% in 2021, fueled by a growing emphasis on circular economy projects.
Companies Dominating the Industrial Sodium Chloride Landscape
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
The industrial sodium chloride market is extremely concentrated, with dominant players utilizing size, technology, and local strengths to stay competitive. U.S. giants like Cargill and Compass Minerals dominate in automation and sustainability, while India's Tata Chemicals and GHCL emphasize vertical integration and green energy investments. European players such as K+S and INEOS emphasize environmental regulations and digitalization. Asian players from Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan are increasing exports and building recycling and clean processing technologies. Strategic actions involve acquisitions, R&D of salt-based specialty applications, and green initiatives led by the government, prompting leading manufacturers to position themselves according to international industrial demand and environmental standards.
Top 15 Global Manufacturers in the Industrial Sodium Chloride Market
|
Company Name |
Country of Origin |
Estimated Market Share (%) |
Key Strategic Initiatives |
|
Cargill, Incorporated |
USA |
9.6% |
Expanded deicing salt capacity; partnerships in sustainable salt mining. |
|
K+S Aktiengesellschaft |
Germany |
8.4% |
Focus on environmental responsibility, digital salt logistics. |
|
Tata Chemicals Ltd. |
India |
7.7% |
Invested in green energy operations; backward integration for cost efficiency. |
|
Compass Minerals International, Inc. |
USA |
7.3% |
Opened new Goderich mine shafts; automation in mining operations. |
|
ICL Group Ltd. |
Israel (Europe) |
6.2% |
Sustainability strategy includes marine salt processing innovation. |
|
China National Salt Industry Corporation |
China |
xx% |
Expanding export operations; upgrading solar salt fields. |
|
Cheetham Salt Ltd. |
Australia |
xx% |
Renewable energy adoption in salt harvesting: product diversification. |
|
INEOS Enterprises |
UK |
xx% |
Acquisitions in specialty salt, investing in digital inventory systems. |
|
Hanwha Corporation |
South Korea |
xx% |
Investing in salt recycling tech, scaling industrial-grade applications. |
|
Akzo Nobel N.V. (Nouryon Salt) |
Netherlands |
xx% |
Divestment to focus on performance chemicals; innovation in pure vacuum salt. |
|
Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. (GHCL) |
India |
xx% |
Built new salt pans; expansion in textile chemicals using sodium chloride. |
|
Malaya Salt Berhad |
Malaysia |
xx% |
Localized R&D; expansion into export-driven industrial salt. |
|
CIECH S.A. |
Poland (Europe) |
xx% |
Streamlining operations through digitization; expanded soda ash-linked salt supply. |
|
Dampier Salt Ltd. (a Rio Tinto Company) |
Australia |
xx% |
Enhancing solar salt production; efficiency in logistics network. |
Here are a few areas of focus covered in the competitive landscape of the industrial sodium chloride market:
In the News
- In July 2023, Morton Salt plans to spend $110 million to increase its U.S. production capacity by 11%. The growth aims to serve increased demand in industrial uses, such as deicing and chemical production.
- In August 2023, Cargill Inc. sold some of its U.S. deicing operations to redirect resources toward improving sodium chloride production capabilities with an emphasis on efficiency and sustainability.
Author Credits: Rajrani Baghel
- Report ID: 853
- Published Date: May 22, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
