Vietnam Okays Import of Additional 200,000 Tons of Salt
The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has approved the import of an additional 200,000 tons of salt to meet domestic demand, local media reported.
Thoi Bao Kinh Te said the import will raise Vietnam’s total imported salt volume in 2008 to 430,000 tons, of which 65,000 tons are for food industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that Vietnam’s salt output will be 900,000-950,000 tons in 2008.
But the country needs more than 1.34 million tons, including 530,000 tons for daily use, 40,000 for the national reserves and 230,000 tons for the chemicals industry.
Vietnam is expected to increase its salt output to 1.5 million tons in 2010, and 2 million tons in 2020.
Some 120 coastal communes in Vietnam are cultivating salt on 12,558 hectares, employing nearly 70,000 laborers. (Vietnam Economic Times)
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