Global Solar Salt Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Source (Underground Brine and Sea Water), By Form (Pellet, Fine, and Granular), By Application (Chemical Processing, De-Icing, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Flavoring Agent, and Others), By End-use (Commercial and Household), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2025 - 2035

Global Solar Salt Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The Global Solar Salt Market Size Was Estimated at USD 5.12 Billion in 2024
• The Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of around 4.4% from 2025 to 2035
• The Worldwide Solar Salt Market Size is Expected to Reach USD 8.22 Billion by 2035
• North America is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period.

According to a research report published by Spherical Insights and Consulting, The Global Solar Salt Market Size was worth around USD 5.12 Billion in 2024 and is predicted to Grow to around USD 8.22 Billion by 2035 with a compound annual Growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2025 to 2035. The solar salt market is growing due to increasing demand across chemical manufacturing, food processing, water treatment, and de-icing applications. Its cost-effective, energy-efficient production process and the expanding industrial activities of emerging economies support continuous market growth.

Market Overview

The Global Solar Salt Market Size refers to salt produced through the natural evaporation of seawater or brine in open ponds using sunlight and wind. Solar salt, known for its high purity, low production cost, and environmentally friendly manufacturing process, finds broad applications across industries that include chemicals, food processing, water treatment, agriculture, and de-icing, among others. Major uses include chlor-alkali production, seasoning and preservation in foods, livestock feed formulation, and municipal or commercial snow and ice management. Market growth is driven by growing demand for processed foods, increasing activities in the manufacture of chemicals, expanding water treatment needs, and the move toward sustainable and low-carbon production. Advancements in technology, such as better pond design, automated monitoring of evaporation processes, and enhanced crystallization techniques, further increase production efficiency and product quality.

Opportunities are particularly strong in emerging economies with favorable climatic conditions, abundant coastal areas, and increasing industrialization that can enable large-scale, low-cost production. Some prominent companies in the global solar salt market include Cargill, K+S Group, Mitsui & Co., Akzo Nobel Salt, Infosa, Dominion Salt, and Tata Chemicals. These companies pursue strategies of capacity expansion, research and development, and various strategic partnerships with a view to consolidating their positions in the global market. In September 2024, the Western Australian government granted Lead Agency status to the Mardie Project, accelerating approvals for its 8-10 million tpa solar salt operation. Set to become Australia’s largest and the world’s third-largest by 2026, the project supports Pilbara’s economic diversification and strengthens Asian export supply chains for batteries and solar panels.

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the solar salt market based on various segments and regions, forecasts revenue growth, and analyzes trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the solar salt market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies, such as expansion, type launch, development, partnership, merger, and acquisition, have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the solar salt market. 

Driving Factors

The global solar salt market is driven by increasing demand from the chemical, food processing, and de-icing industries. Solar salt, a product of seawater evaporation, is a cost-effective source of sodium chloride used in chlor-alkali production, water treatment, and animal feed. Increasing industrialization, expanding activities of the chemical manufacturing industry, and growing consumption of processed foods drive the market. In addition to its basic applications, the adoption of solar salt in eco-friendly de-icing solutions, agriculture, and emerging economies with expanding infrastructure further propels demand. This inspires not only sustainable production but also favorable environmental attributes with respect to solar evaporation versus more traditional mining methods, and supports steady global market expansion for the commodity.

Restraining Factors

The solar salt market is also constrained by dependence on favorable climatic conditions. Severe rainfall or any other extreme condition of the weather can interfere with its production. High land requirements, combined with fluctuations in the quality of seawater and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, test manufacturers. Competition from mechanically mined salt limits the market's growth in some regions.

Market Segmentation

The solar salt market share is classified into source, form, application, and end-use  

• The underground brine segment dominated the market in 2024, approximately 53% and is projected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the source, the solar salt market is divided into underground brine and sea water. Among these, the underground brine segment dominated the market in 2024 and is projected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. The underground brine segment dominated the global solar salt market due to its consistent high-quality output, cost-effective extraction process, and suitability for large-scale industrial applications. Its growth is supported by a steady supply from brine reservoirs, minimal environmental disruption compared to open-pit mining, and strong demand from chemical processing, water treatment, and de-icing industries, where purity and bulk availability are critical for efficient operations.

• The pellet segment accounted for the largest share in 2024, approximately 47% and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the form, the solar salt market is divided into pellet, fine, and granular. Among these, the pellet segment accounted for the largest share in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The pellet segment is growing in the global solar salt market due to its uniform size, ease of handling, and efficient storage and transportation. Its growth comes from high demand for chemical processing, water treatment, and de-icing applications, where good pellet quality ensures consistent operations. Additionally, industrial preference for bulk, ready-to-use forms further supports the wide adoption of pelletized solar salt.

• The chemical processing segment accounted for the largest share in 2024, approximately 41% and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the application, the solar salt market is divided into chemical processing, de-icing, water treatment, oil & gas, agriculture, flavoring agent, and others. Among these, the chemical processing segment accounted for the largest share in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The growth in the chemical processing segment is due to its wide use in the production of chlor-alkali, the manufacturing of soda ash, and other similar chemical processes. Growth is driven by growing industrial demand for high-purity salt, expanding chemical manufacturing activities worldwide, and the need for consistent, reliable raw material to support large-scale production and maintain operational efficiency.

• The commercial segment accounted for the highest market revenue in 2024, approximately 65% and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the end-use, the solar salt market is divided into commercial and household. Among these, the commercial segment accounted for the highest market revenue in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The large-scale demand from chemical processing, water treatment, de-icing, oil & gas, and agricultural sectors propels the commercial segment growth in the global solar salt market. It is driven by bulk consumption requirements, industrial reliance on high-purity salt, and the growing infrastructure and industrial activities in emerging economies, increasing the need for consistent, cost-effective commercial-grade solar salt.

Regional Segment Analysis of the Solar Salt Market

• North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) 
• Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC)
• South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) 
• The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold the largest share of the solar salt market over the predicted timeframe.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold the largest share of the solar salt market over the predicted timeframe. Asia Pacific is expected to have a 45 % share in the global solar salt market, due to plenty of coastal resources and high solar irradiance that, along with favorable climatic conditions, support cost-effective solar evaporation. India, China, and Thailand are the key contributors, with the expanding chemical industries, food processing industries, and de-icing industries. Support by the Indian government for traditional solar salt pans and large-scale industrial production of salt in China further boosts growth. Increase in population, urbanization, and industrialization in the region upsurges consumption in the water treatment, agriculture, and chemical industries, making it the dominant growing solar salt market globally.

Under the Development of Salt Industry Project (DSIP), subsidies enhanced traditional solar salt pans in coastal areas such as Goa, supporting climate-resilient production and compliance with the updated 2025 Republic Act No. 11985 on iodization. The initiative tackles salt shortages, strengthens MSME livelihoods, and introduced premium iodized and low-sodium solar salt variants in July 2025.

North America is expected to grow at a rapid CAGR in the solar salt market during the forecast period. The solar salt market is expected to grow rapidly in North America, with an approximate 25% market share, due to growing demand from various industries, such as chemical processing, water treatment, and de-icing applications. The United States and Canada are leading contributors owing to supportive government incentives, technological advancements within the production of salt, and strict environmental policies for increased usage of solar salt. Growth will be further fueled by a rise in the adoption of low-sodium and high-purity salts for food and industrial purposes. Additionally, expanding infrastructure and needs pertaining to winter maintenance in colder regions also drive steady commercial and industrial demand for solar salt.

In Europe, the solar salt market is experiencing growth due to increasing demand from the chemical processing, water treatment, and food industries, combined with stringent environmental and quality regulations. France, Spain, and Italy are well-positioned for ideal coastal conditions to produce through solar evaporation and thus achieve sustainable and high-purity production of salt. Government initiatives have also been encouraging in laying a conducive platform for eco-friendly production methods and renewable energy integration, thereby facilitating market growth and positioning Europe as a focal area for the consumption of high-quality solar salt.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the solar salt market, along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their type of offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes type development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

List of Key Companies

• Cargill, Inc.
• K+S AG
• Tata Chemicals Limited
• Compass Minerals International, Inc.
• Rio Tinto
• Cheetham Salt Ltd.
• Dampier Salt
• AkzoNobel N.V.
• Mitsui & Co.
• Infosa
• Kensalt Ltd.
• Akzo Nobel Salt
• United Salt Corporation
• INEOS
• China National Salt Industry Corporation
• Others

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Recent Development

• In November 2025, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), through the National Fisheries Development Center (BFAR-NFDC), advanced its Development of Salt Industry Project by creating value-added solar salt products that enhance nutrition and market potential. Through technology demonstrations, the initiative modernizes solar sea salt production and empowers coastal communities with new livelihood opportunities and sustainable, community-driven enterprises.

• In March 2025, Michigan Potash & Salt Co. began constructing the nation’s largest evaporative solar salt plant, supported by state incentives to boost high-purity, food-grade salt production. EPA policies encouraging cleaner de-icing methods and the FDA’s 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines are also driving innovation in low-sodium solar salt products.

• In September 2024, INEOS Inovyn, in partnership with PerPetum Energy and Green4Power, launched a 60 MW photovoltaic solar farm at its Jemeppe production site, featuring more than 90,000 panels—an area equivalent to 56 football pitches—to supply renewable power and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 14,000 tonnes.

•  In January 2024, Rio Tinto/Dampier Salt, the world’s largest seaborne salt exporter with an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes, sold its Lake MacLeod production site in Australia to Leichhardt Industrials Group for USD 251 million, marking a strategic divestment from one of its three Australian operation

• In September 2021, Mitsui & Co. launched THE SHARKBAY SALT, a table salt developed by Mitsui and manufactured with Ako Kasei. It features environmentally friendly solar marine salt sourced from Mitsui’s wholly owned subsidiary, Shark Bay Salt Pty Ltd, based in Perth, Australia.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the solar salt market based on the below-mentioned segments: 

Global Solar Salt Market, By Source

• Underground Brine
• Sea Water

Global Solar Salt Market, By Form

• Pellet
• Fine
• Granular

Global Solar Salt Market, By Application

• Chemical Processing
• De-Icing
• Water Treatment
• Oil & Gas
• Agriculture
• Flavoring Agent
• Others

Global Solar Salt Market, By End-use

• Commercial
• Household

Global Solar Salt Market, By Regional Analysis

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa