Salt production misses seasonal target

Highlights:

• Salt production falls short of FY26 target 
• Rain, fog disrupt peak harvesting season 
• Production at 19 lakh tonne against 27 lakh demand 
• 7.7 lakh tonne shortfall recorded 
• 36 days of production halted due to weather 
• Over 40,000 farmers engaged in salt cultivation

Bangladesh's salt production fell short of its 2025-26 seasonal target due to prolonged adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, dense fog and intermittent disruptions during the peak harvesting period, according to industry officials.

Data from the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation's (BSCIC) Salt Industry Development Office in Cox's Bazar show the country produced 1.945 million tonnes of salt against a demand target of 2.715 million tonnes, leaving a shortfall of around 7,70,000 tonnes.

The salt production season began on 12 November in Kutubdia and officially concluded on 25 May, spanning 194 days. During this period, around 40,150 farmers cultivated salt across 67,757 acres in coastal areas of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram, recording an average yield of 28.7 tonnes per acre.

BSCIC Deputy General Manager Zafar Iqbal Bhuiyan said weather instability was the dominant challenge throughout the season.

"From late April to early May, continuous rainfall severely affected production. Salt harvesting was halted for nearly 36 days in total during the season. Excess fog and rain caused a significant drop in output," he told The Business Standard.

He added that rainfall on 24 and 25 May further disrupted the final stage of production, while early shutdowns of salt fields also occurred due to the diversion of land for shrimp farming.

Despite the official end of the season, salt production continues in several coastal areas, supported by improved weather conditions and rising temperatures.

Farmers in Cox's Bazar say output has recently increased but profits remain constrained by production costs and volatile prices.

Mozammel Haque, a salt farmer in Pokkhali, said production had picked up again following the return of dry weather. "We are now producing 20 to 30 maunds of salt per kani of land daily."

However, he noted that earnings have not kept pace with costs.

Another farmer, Shahadat Hossain, said: "Production is better now, but we are not getting a fair price compared to expenses."

Jasim Uddin added that salt prices fluctuated sharply during the season, ranging from Tk180 per maund at the beginning to around Tk400 recently, but profit margins remained limited after costs.

Abdul Kader said farmers would only see meaningful returns if prices rise to Tk400–Tk500 per maund.

Salt trader Matiur Rahman said there is no shortage in the market. "Stocks in both fields and mills are sufficient, and supply remains stable," he said.

While BSCIC estimates production at 1.945 million tonnes, the Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry claims output has already exceeded 2.3 million tonnes, suggesting a higher field-level production than official figures indicate.

Chamber spokesperson Abid Ahsan Sagar said discrepancies may exist between field reality and official estimates but the overall supply situation remains stable. "Despite differences in figures, the market is well supplied and national demand can be met," he said