Cambodia imported 4,000 tons of salt from India in the Q1

It is understood that due to the shortage of labor in domestic salt production, Cambodia has been unable to produce enough salt for self-sufficiency in recent years.

According to the Director of the Process Affairs Ministery of the Ministry of Industry, Science and Innovation, the authorities monitor the production of table salt closely, because table salt is a "strategic material."

"Once it is found that the supply of table salt is in short supply, the government must import table salt from foreign countries to meet domestic demand."

He said that according to the investigation of the Ministry, there are currently more than 30,000 tons of salt in our warehouses, and domestic demand is expected to be this amount.

He confirmed that from January to March this year, the government approved a salt merchant to import 4,000 tons of salt from India to increase domestic salt supply while ensuring price stability. Current salt prices range from 1500 to 2000 Cambodian currency (about 0.375 to 0.50 US dollars) per kilogram.

He said that in order to ensure the continuity of the supply of salt, the government encourages investors to introduce modern technology for production, but the relevant investment involves huge capital and requires long-term consideration.

Table salt profit is very meager

On the other hand, Kampot province ’s salt production pointed out that because the profit of salt is very small, the wages cannot be increased, and it is necessary to work under the hot sun, so many workers are reluctant to work in salt field, they would choose work in factories or enterprises because of higher income and more comfortable working environment.

Cambodia used to be a salt-rich country, with domestic salt fields reaching 4,500 hectares. The salt produced is not only self-sufficient, but also capable of being exported.

According to statistics, before 2016, the annual output of Cambodian salt was once as high as 180,000 tons, but in 2017 began to decline due to bad weather, the average annual output from 2017 to 2019 is less than 40,000 tons, after depleting 2016 inventory , Cambodia have to import table salt from abroad in 2019 to meet the domestic market demand.

Due to lack of technology and capital, the Cambodian salt fields still use the traditional production method, that is, the production of salt by means of exposure, so the production of salt will fluctuate according to the weather conditions. (Jianhua Daily)