Mon State is running out of salt, a shortage that is driving up prices and could leave neighboring states and regions with either a shortage or a need for another supplier, according to an industry representative.
“New salt hasn’t been harvested yet, and the salt stored by the traders and entrepreneurs is nearly exhausted,” said U Khin Soe, head of the state's Salt and Marine Chemical Enterprise.
He added that salt is particularly in demand for fish paste and dried fish producers during the dry season, leading to a currently mass jump in prices.
Last year, raw salt was priced at K80 per viss while processed salt fetched K120 per viss. Now those figures are K190 and K220 per viss, respectively, according to salt traders.
“We don’t have much salt left in the warehouse,” said U Zaw Lwin, a salt entrepreneur from Thanbyuzayat township. “It would be good if salt can be harvested earlier this year. Now, salt is fetching a good price, but it is nearly out of stock.”
According to salt farmers, late rainfall at the beginning the dry season delayed sowing the salt fields. U Khin Soe confirmed that the fields were still being prepared. Mon State salt is exported to Bago, Mandalay, Tanintharyi and Yangon regions as well as to Myitkyina in Kachin State.
The number of salt fields has fallen from over 5,000 acres in 2011 to 2,600 in 2017, with the main areas of production in Paung, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye townships. Two hundred acres of salt fields in Bilin Village were also abandoned this year.
According the state’s Salt and Marine Chemical Enterprise, Mon State produces between 28,000 and 30,000 tons of salt every year.
