Common salt exports up by 22% in Apr-Dec 2010-11

India's common salt exports increased by 22 per cent to 24.88 lakh tonne during April-December 2010-11 year-on-year on account of increasing demand of the important food ingredient in the overseas market, parliament was informed today.

"The demand for export of salt from India to various countries has increased by 22.1 per cent during the year 2010-11 (up to December)" as compared to 20.38 lakh tonne in the corresponding period previous fiscal, Minister of State For Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

During April-December 2010-11, the country produced 145.05 lakh tonne of common salt. The minister further said that adequate stock of salt is available to meet the demand for exports.

In 2009-10, the country exported 28.96 lakh tonne of salt, while the production was 239.51 lakh tonne.

In an another reply, Scindia said the fragile global economic recovery and consequent slower demand growth in the developed markets pose a challenge to Indian exporters in accessing overseas markets for their products.  

During the April-January period of 2010-11, India's total merchandise shipments grew by 29.3 per cent to $184.63 billion vis-a-vis the year-ago period.