# Salt: Stocks

Why winter stockpiles matter more than reserves

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/stocks/

What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.

#### Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply

| Country | Reserves not quantified (USGS: 'large') | Current output kt salt (2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | – | 56,000 | – | n/a |
| **United States** | – | 40,000 | – | n/a |
| **India** | – | 30,000 | – | n/a |
| **Germany** | – | 15,000 | – | n/a |
| **Canada** | – | 13,000 | – | n/a |

 USGS MCS 2026, Salt (world production table). Years of supply = reserves ÷ current output; reserves grow as prices and technology change, so this is not a countdown.

#### Recycling

USGS lists reserves only as large and notes the oceans hold a virtually inexhaustible supply, so reserve life is not meaningful. Salt is not recycled (USGS: none). World output was 270 Mt in 2025. India's production figures differ by source: 34 Mt (2024) and 30 Mt (2025) per USGS, 33.7 Mt (2024) per BRS, 26.6 Mt (2021-22) per IBM. Stocks that matter are seasonal road-salt piles.

Reserves are listed only as 'large', and the oceans hold a virtually inexhaustible supply, so a reserve life is meaningless. The stocks that matter are seasonal. Road authorities and suppliers build rock-salt piles before winter. A short stockpile can turn a cold spell into a shortage, as in New York in early 2025. Salt has no recycling. Chemical salt is consumed in reactions, and road salt washes into rivers and soils.

None.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/salt/links/index.md)