BEIJING; Pakistan’s salt exports to China surged by 33 percent during the first half of 2025, signaling deepening trade cooperation and rising Chinese demand for Pakistan’s mineral-rich salt, particularly for industrial applications.
According to figures released by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), Pakistan exported industrial salt worth 3.74 million dollars to China between January and June 2025.
This marks a significant jump from 2.84 million dollars during the same period last year. The total volume exported reached 23.94 million kilograms, with an average unit price of 0.15 dollars per kilogram.
When including edible, industrial, and other categories of salt, Pakistan’s total salt exports to China stood at 3.93 million dollars during this six-month period, compared to 2.95 million dollars in the first half of 2024.
This increase comes amid overall growth in Pakistan’s exports to China, which reached 1.248 billion dollars in the first half of 2025. Other major export items included copper, cotton yarn, seafood, sesame seeds, zinc and iron ores (including roasted iron pyrites), and rice.
Experts attribute the boost in salt trade not only to growing Chinese industrial needs but also to Pakistan’s vast salt reserves and improved bilateral trade mechanisms. Pakistan is home to the second-largest salt mine in the world—Khewra Salt Mine—located in the Punjab province.
Discovered in 326 BC by the troops of Alexander the Great, the Khewra mine contains an estimated 82 to 600 million tons of rock salt. It remains the country’s most prominent source of natural pink Himalayan salt, which is popular globally for its distinctive color and mineral content.
Other notable salt-producing areas in Pakistan include Kalabagh, Warcha, and Bahadurkhel, which contribute to the country’s total annual salt output of around 4 million tons. While much of the edible-grade pink salt is exported to Europe and the United States, the industrial-grade salt, used in chemical, textile, and food processing sectors, finds strong demand in China.
Muhammad Zeeshan, a Pakistani salt trader, credited the growth in exports to improved logistics, better trade access under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), and increasing interest in Pakistan’s salt for various industrial processes.
He further noted that the recent figures not only reflect diversification in Pakistan’s export portfolio but also open new avenues for cooperation in the mineral trade between the two countries. He said the trend shows promise for the development of salt-related industries, including value-added processing, packaging, and branding for international markets.
With its centuries-old mining tradition and vast untapped reserves, Pakistan is now looking to expand its footprint in the global salt market, especially through stronger trade partnerships like the one with China.