Pakistan’s salt exports to China witnessed a significant growth of 38 percent year-on-year during the first five months of 2025, signaling strengthening bilateral trade ties in mineral commodities.
According to official data, Pakistan exported salt worth $3.44 million to China from January to May 2025, compared to $2.50 million during the same period last year, said Ghulam Qadir, Trade and Investment Counsellor at Pakistan’s Embassy in China.
Ghulam Qadir said that this growth is primarily attributed to the rising Chinese demand for high-purity salt used in enteral and parenteral solutions and medications, under the commodity code 25010019. Pakistan exported 22.5 million kilograms of this grade to China, with a total trade value of $3.29 million. The average unit price stood at $0.146 per kilogram, making it competitive in the international market.
“Pakistan is among the few countries with abundant reserves of rock salt, particularly the pink Himalayan variety, which has gained recognition globally for its quality and purity. Although Pakistan’s salt exports to China remain modest compared to other suppliers, they show strong upward potential,” he added.
Apart from medical-grade salt, Pakistan also exported edible salt and industrial salt, though in smaller volumes. Experts believe that Pakistan can leverage its cost-effective production and growing processing capacity to increase its share in China’s multi-billion-dollar salt market.
Analysts suggest that improved processing infrastructure, compliance with Chinese pharmaceutical-grade salt standards, and robust logistics partnerships through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could further enhance Pakistan’s salt trade with China.
Stakeholders from both sides are exploring ways to enhance trade facilitation and quality assurance mechanisms, which may help Pakistan expand from bulk exports to high-margin processed salt segments.
