Rains hit salt production, prices jump

The early onset of monsoon has resulted in prices of common salt rising to Rs 10 per kg in Kanpur. Major salt producing states of Gujarat and Rajasthan have seen a decline in production due to weather vagaries. This has hit supplies to other states.

The price of pulverised salt has risen by 25 per cent to around Rs 8-10 a kg depending upon the brand, while uncrushed salt has gone up by Re 1 to Rs 4 per kg. Gujarat and Rajasthan together produce around 85 per cent of the total salt produced in the country and supply to other states and abroad.

The current rise is causing concern for 200-odd small tannery owners in the Jajmau area of the city.

“The supply from these states has been delayed since the last 15 days resulting in the steep price rise,” says Surjeet Gulati, a wholesaler in Collectorganj area of Kanpur.

Gulati said that on an average around 7,200 tonnes of common salt is brought into the city every month, of which 80 per cent is used by tanneries, ice-cream manufacturers and other industrial units. He also added that no supply has been received since June 22.

It may be noted that the supply of goods had already been hit by the Gujjar agitation last month and the early monsoon further compounded the problem.