Bangladesh to import 500,000 tonnes of unrefined salt to stabilise market

The government has allowed authorised importers to bring in 500,000 tonnes of unrefined salt from abroad, in a move to stabilise the market.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 5 July 2017, 11:48 AM
Updated : 5 July 2017, 01:46 PM

The decision came after Cyclone Mora and flash floods affected salt production.

Salt will be imported to meet local demand and keep the prices steady, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

A statutory regulatory order or SRO will follow soon.

The government-authorised importers can bring consignments and later the refined edible salt will be marketed after quality assessment.

Bangladesh imported 250,000 tonnes of unrefined salt in two phases last year.

The industries ministry found a deficit of 212,000 tonnes after the last salt cultivation season that ended in June.  About 1.3 million tonnes of salt were produced during the season whereas annual demand for salt in Bangladesh is around 1.5 million tonnes.

Unrefined salt is currently on sale at Tk 15 a kg.

Unpacked refined salt is available at Tk 22-25 a kg, while the rate was Tk 20-22 a year ago. Packed refined salt retails at Tk 34-40 a kg, while it was Tk 25-32 a year ago.