Mon State salt industry eyes expansion with overseas market potential

The Mon State Salt Farmers Association reports that the average annual salt production from 5,000 acres of salt farms in Mon State ranges from 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes per year.
In Mon State, the salt-production season commences in December each year and halts temporarily in April due to possibility of raining; if not, production continues until the end of May. Salt is produced through the evaporation of seawater, sourced from Panga Creek, Karoppi Creek, and Ankhe Creek in Thanbyuzayat Township, all of which flow into the sea.
This salt is distributed to Mon State, Kayin State, Taninthayi Region, and Mandalay Region. Approximately 40 tonnes of surplus salt will be exported to South Korea this month, with an expected export volume of up to 5,000 tonnes for the year.
In Mon State, 92 salt farmers operate on 5,000 acres. To advance the salt industry, efforts are underway to install modern machinery for producing fine iodized salt from coarse salt, as stated by U Win Htein, chairman of the Mon State Salt Farmers Association.
Currently, Myanmar’s salt commands a favourable price in South Korea, with a significant market share. Therefore, penetrating foreign salt markets could create numerous job opportunities for Myanmar’s salt producers and salt farmers, contributing to both domestic and foreign income growth. — Aung Myo Thu (IPRD) /KZL