India-Pakistan Trade Freeze Sparks Himalayan Pink Salt price Surge
Amritsar, India – A Recent Ban On Trade Between India And Pakistan is Causing A Stir In The Indian Market, Specifically Impacting The Availability And Price Of Himalayan Pink Salt. The Ban, Implemented Following Security Concerns, Has Disrupted A Decades-Old Trade Route, Leaving Indian Importers Scrambling For Alternatives As prices Soar.
The Himalayan Pink Salt Trade Disruption
For Decades, Trader Vipan kumar, Based In Amritsar, Has Relied On Imports Of Himalayan pink Salt From Pakistan. His Business, Which Typically Sees Sales Of 2,000 To 2,500 Tonnes Of Pink Salt Per Quarter, Has Ground To A Halt Following New Delhi’s Ban On Pakistani Goods. This Ban Includes Goods Routed Through third Countries.
The Impact is Palpable, With Prices Of This sought-After Salt, Known For Its Distinctive pink Hue And Mineral Content, Already On The Rise. The Himalayan Pink Salt Is Preferred For Cooking, Spa Treatments, Decorative Lamps, And By Hindus During Religious Fasts As it is indeed A Non-Marine salt.
Pakistan’s Salt Mine Dominance
the Himalayan Pink salt Predominantly Comes From The Khewra salt Mine In Pakistan’s Punjab Province,The Second-Largest Salt Mine Globally. This Mine Holds An Estimated 82 Million Metric Tonnes Of salt, With Approximately 0.36 Million Metric tonnes Extracted Annually. A important Portion Is Used Industrially, While The Remainder Is Processed For Consumption.
Fahad Ali, A Journalist Near The Mine, Notes Its Scenic Beauty Attracts Thousands of Tourists each Year. The Mine Operates Around 30 Salt Processing Units Where Rock Salt Boulders Are Mined By Hand And Shipped Out.
Rising Prices and Market Impact
India Heavily Relies On Pakistan For Its Himalayan Pink Salt Supply. The Recent Trade Freeze, A Consequence Of Diplomatic Tensions And Security Measures, Has Triggered Price Increases.
Gurveen singh, An Amritsar-Based Trader, Reports That Retail Prices Have Jumped From 45-50 Rupees Per Kilogramme (Approximately $0.53-$0.58 Usd) To At Least 60 rupees Per Kilogramme (Approximately $0.70 usd). In Kolkata, Prices Have Surged Even Higher, Reaching 70-80 Rupees per Kg (Approximately $0.82-$0.93 Usd).
Did You know? Himalayan Pink Salt’s pink colour comes from trace minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and zinc.
Seeking Alternative Solutions
As Existing Stocks Dwindle, Concerns Are Mounting About A Potential Crisis. Traders Like Dinobondhu Mukherjee In Kolkata Are Urging The Indian Government To Explore Alternative Sourcing Options To Prevent Supply Chain Disruptions, Given The Frequently enough-Strained Relations Between India and Pakistan.
Conversely, Pakistani Exporters Anticipate A Positive impact From The Ban. Faizan Panjwani Of rm Salt In Karachi Believes It Will Reduce Competition From Indian Traders Who rebrand Pakistani Salt For International Sales.
Panjwani Stated That While India Is A Significant Market, Pakistan Aims To Export Value-Added Salt Products Rather Than Raw Materials, Capitalizing On The already High Global Demand For Their Salt.
Declining Trade Relations
Trade Between the two Nations Has Been On A Downward Trend since A 2019 Attack In Pulwama. India Retaliated By Revoking Pakistan’s Most Favoured Nation Status and Imposing 200 Percent Tariffs On Pakistani Imports.
Recent Figures From India’s Ministry of Commerce Indicate A Significant Imbalance, With Indian Exports To Pakistan Totalling $447.7 Million From April 2024 To January 2025, Compared To pakistan’s Exports To India At A Mere $420,000.
In 2024, India Imported Only 642 Metric Tonnes Of Pink Salt, A Sharp Decrease From The 74,457 Metric Tonnes Imported In 2018. High Tariffs Primarily Drove This Decline.
Kumar Highlighted that The Tariffs Raised The Import Price Of Salt From 3.50 Rupees ($0.041 Usd) Per Kilogramme To 24.50 Rupees ($0.29 Usd) In 2019, Even When Routed Through Third Countries. Despite The Increased Cost, Demand Remained High Until The Current Ban.
One Unexpected Sector Affected Is The Himalayan Pink salt Lamp Industry. Deep, Founder Of Global Aroma, Expresses Concern Over The Increased Costs And The Need To Find Alternative Sources If Pakistani Salt Remains Inaccessible.
What Measures Should India Take To Ensure A Stable Supply Of Himalayan Pink Salt? How Can Pakistan Capitalize On This Trade Shift To Enhance Its Export Capabilities?
| Category | India to Pakistan (Apr 2024 – Jan 2025) | Pakistan to India (Apr 2024 – Jan 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Exports Value | $447.7 Million | $420,000 |
| 2024 pink Salt Import (India) | 642 Metric Tonnes | |
| 2018 Pink Salt Import (India) | 74,457 Metric Tonnes | |
The enduring Appeal Of Himalayan Pink Salt
Himalayan Pink Salt Has Gained Popularity Not Just For Its Culinary Use But Also For Alleged Health Benefits. Proponents Claim It Contains Over 84 Minerals And Trace Elements, Though Scientific Evidence Supporting All Claims Is Limited.It’s Commonly Used In Bath Products, Salt Lamps, And As A Decorative Element In Homes.
Pro Tip: When buying Himalayan Pink Salt, check for a consistent pink color and ensure it comes from a reputable source to avoid imitations.
Culinary Uses
Chefs And Home Cooks Alike appreciate Himalayan pink Salt For Its Unique Flavor Profile. it’s Often Used As A Finishing Salt to Add A burst Of Flavor To Dishes. Some Prefer It Over Table Salt Due To Its Perceived Purity And Mineral Content.
Spa and Wellness Applications
In The Wellness Industry, Himalayan Pink Salt Is Used In Salt Caves, Bath Salts, And Exfoliating Scrubs. Salt Caves,In Particular,Are Believed To Offer Respiratory Benefits,Though more research Is Needed To Confirm these Claims.
Disclaimer: The health benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt are not definitively proven. Consult a healthcare professional for any health-related concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Himalayan Pink Salt
- Why Is Himalayan Pink Salt Pink?
Its Distinctive Color Comes From Trace Minerals Like Iron. - Where Does himalayan Pink Salt Come From?
Primarily From The Khewra Salt Mine In Pakistan. - What Are The uses Of Himalayan Pink salt?
Cooking, Spa treatments, Decorative Lamps, And Religious Practices. - Why Are prices Of Himalayan Pink Salt Rising In India?
Due To A Trade Ban Disrupting The Supply Chain. - Are There Any Alternative Sources For Himalayan Pink Salt?
The Indian Government Is Exploring Other options. - How Does The Trade Ban Affect the Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp Industry?
It Increases Costs And Forces Manufacturers To Seek Other Sources.
What are your thoughts on the trade ban and its impact on the Himalayan pink Salt market? Share your comments below!
