Heavy rainfall in Kutch and Saurashtra regions has diluted salt pans in the salt producing regions causing a delay in salt production by about 1-2 months, sources engaged in the salt production informed.
However, the delay in production may is less likely to increase prices, as there is sufficient carryover stock to meet domestic demand.
"Heavy rains have cased dilution of salt in the salt-pans. This would escalate production cost as well as delay the new crop," said Bachubhai Ahir, president, Indian Salt Manufacturers' Association (ISMA).
Industry players maintained that in a normal season, monsoon gets over by August-end and salt production starts by about a month later.
But this year as monsoon extended till September with heavy downpour in the salt pan regions, the salt makers would be able to start production not earlier than November.
While the delay may adversely affect arrival of new crop of free-flow edible grade salt, the new crop of industrial-grade raw salt may be available by November.
The edible salt prices have been almost stable in the recent weeks at around Rs 2000 per tonne, while raw salt is priced at around Rs 800 per tonne. However, the prices have increased over the past year by about 15 per cent due to tight supply condition in the past season.
The industrial salt is supplied to soda-ash and caustic soda industry, which consumes around 110 lakh tonnes of salt per annum, while the total production of salt is estimated to be around 180-185 lakh tonnes in the current year.
Industry insiders informed that dilution of water due to excess rains reduces the process of evaporation from salt pans.
"Ideally, every salt pan has an average 8-9 inches of evaporation during a month. Every three inches of rains in the salt producing regions, this evaporation gets delayed by 10 days," said B C Raval, secretary, ISMA.
Early in September, coastal belt in Saurashtra and Kutch including salt producing regions had witnessed heavy rainfall leaving several parts flooded.
Gujarat is the largest salt producing state in the country, hence climatic extremities in the state would affect overall salt supplies in the country.
