Preliminary draft Economic Potential of Salt in Ethiopia towards flourishing

Chloro-alkaline industry

This draft for discussion comprises selected extracts of a monograph under preparation.

Afar salt production share company

( Samuel Alemu senior mechanical engineer)

Data source: Different sources of information are contained, mainly trade map

Trade Map is based on the world’s largest database of trade statistics, COMTRADE, maintained
by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) -http://unstats.un.org/unsd/comtra

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to give an overview of Ethiopia’s salt industry and how the
industry can maximize from the chemical industries that are currently in their finalization stage to
establish an integrated chemical industry and developing and distributing the product in overseas
markets. Ethiopia is endowed with commercial quantities of common salt in Lake Afdera, which
have not been properly exploited to effectively contribute to the country's economic growth. Total
salt reserves in the lake exceed 290 million tones. The salt deposits have been exploited on a small
manual scale for century targeted domestic demand, the quality of salt produced in the country very
far from the recommended threshold levels as edible and for industrial uses. Currently, as clearly
indicated in the GTP industry in general and chemical industries in particular have been given due
emphasis and the country is geared its effort towards encouraging public and private investors to be
involved in such development activities, Thus, to utilize this fertile economic environment, there
are industries in final stage to establish a chemical industry that required high quality salt. This
paper calls for improvements in the current salt production system for domestic Chloralkali
industry and diversification into value addition for exports, since lake Afdera has the capacity to
suit market requirements, both quantitatively and qualitatively assisted by low cost use of solar
energy.
INTRODUCTION

Common salt, (Halite-NaCl) is an important economic mineral that is widely distributed on all the
continents and occurs in large reserves. It is among the five major chemicals which form the
backbone of the chemical industry including petroleum. The chemical industry is the largest salt
consumer of salt using about 60% of the total production. This industry converts the salt mainly
into chlorine, caustic and soda ash, which are the basics for petro chemistry, organic synthesis,
glass production and etc. In Africa particularly sub-Sahara region countries due to incapability of
producing high grade industrial and refined salt for edible consumptions for their own demand;
non-producers countries of the region imported from others countries (from North Africa, Europe,
Australia, & Latin America).

In Ethiopia most salt is produced by large numbers (several hundreds) of traditional salt producers.
The most common source of salt production (mining) is from salt winning by solar evaporation.
Local supply of salt comes mainly from a place called Afdera which is found in the Afar Regional
state and other traditional producers or local suppliers found Dobi in Afar and Hargelle (chewbet)
in Somali region. According to studies conducted by Ethiopian mineral development corporation in
1993 showed that Lake Afdera has a potential of 290*10 6 ton of salt that can be processed and
produce high quality salt which can serve the demand of industries and human consumption.
Currently it’s claimed that close to 465 producers are engaged in the area & their production far
exceeds domestic market demand (>1.2 mill MT per year) and their production methods and
techniques described as mainly artisan.

The industry is however constrained by lack of local expertise and poor production methods; poor
industry infrastructure; lack of economies of scale; low investment, fortunately recent
establishment of chloralkali industries can enhance the prospect for the salt industry, since the
market opportunity appears brighter.
 1. Salt production potential in Ethiopia

Globally salt is one of the most important chemical products with a wide application in the
chemical process industries in particular and in the manufacturing industry in general. However,
Ethiopia economies of scale had made its implementation unattractive for a long time. Inland/
subsoil/lake sources of salt abound in Ethiopia, although emphasis so far has been more
concentrated on the lake sources since the country has enormous reserves mainly in Afdera.

The exploitation of Dobi & Hargelle (chewbet) subsoil brine reserves is opportunistic and relies on
a ground water flow through the salt deposit. It is not known whether either the salt or the water
flow is a limited resource and there is cause for some concern that there could be a serious problem
of resource depletion using the current technology in this production sites (Cox & Speller,
Consulting Engineers 2013).

Table.1 Current production of salt in Ethiopia

Current production in ton per year

Afdera 1,200,000
Dobi 57,767
Chewbet 23,917

Total 1,283,684
Source: ICCIDD-CIDA Project - (Analysis of IDD /USI in Ethiopia)
1.1 Method of current production in the country

The physical and chemical composition of salt produced from the various sources
varies widely depending upon the manufacturing techniques, climatic conditions and
processes adopted. There are four different types of salt recovery namely: Rock Salt Mining,
Solution Mining, Solar Salt and Processing of Rock Salt. Of these, the solar salt method is the most
widely used in Ethiopia because of high evaporation rates on the production areas. Crude salt
produced in a properly designed salt works has a purity of 95-98% NaCl, if the salt is washed
and dried its purity can be improved more than 99%.

The current situation of production and quality of salt in the country at the three sites is stated
below.
AFDERA

It is estimated that Afdera and the surrounding lakes have a resource of about 290 Million tons of
about 96% NaCl by chemical composition. At Present, There are close to 459 salt producers from
the region and is located in Afdera Woreda, Zone 2 of the Afar National Regional State 820 K.M
from Addis Ababa. Most of the producers (individual) licensed by the Regional government. Since
they are not properly trained and produces very poor quality & below standard salt that does not
meet the requirements as edible & most industries that use salt as input.

In Afdera almost all producers would be considered micro-producers, they lack proper iodization
facility and presently they are knapsack to spray iodine solution to the coarse salt which does not
help homogenously iodize the edible salt. Afar salt production Share Company is the only company
iodized using inclined screw conveyor machine in the production site.

Complex land tenure systems existed in the production area where ownership is held by a
combination of traditional authorities, families, private individuals. Although they formed
producers’ association to administrate the overall salt industry of the region, its duty only focused
on setting the quota the producers able to sell. The association sets quota based on the production
amount; this result in improper exploitation of the country resource as producers struggle to
produce as many products as possible to get higher estimated quota.

Capacity: The current production level far exceeds local market demand (>1.2 mill MT/year).

DOBI & HARGELE

These areas have underground saline water. Solar evaporation of brine is the main technology for
salt production. In Dobi used pump for transferring subsoil brine from the wells to the ponds which
constructed by bunding the land, and setting up channels for movement of brine; this translates into
a series of ponds (pre concentration, service & crystallization similar to Afdera). Whereas In
Hargelle (chewbet) manually transferring subsoil brine from the wells (3-5m) to the single pond
(10m x 10m) where salt crystal is formed & harvested along with the others minerals of the ground
water. In both areas there is no production the entire year because during rainy season floods
inundate the entire area.

Capacity: The current average production level in Dobi & chewbet is 49,806 & 19,931 quintal per
month respectively.
 2. Analysis of the Ethiopia Situation

As earlier indicated, there are abundant occurrences of common salt in the country. However, the
salt is presently not being produced in modern way rather there is uncontrolled exploitation of the
country resource. As per newly released report by trade minister, annual edible salt requirement
for the country is estimated at around 400,000 MT; whereas currently 1,283,684 MT of salt
produced in overall country, besides chloralkali industries and importers importing high grade
quality and edible table salt from foreign market.

The following lists the main characteristics of the industry not to contribute its expected part of the
country’s development.

 In the production of crude salt all tasks except for the pumping of seawater are
performed manually, surprisingly in chewbet Somalia region transferring brine to
pond use manually. In the packaging plants although machinery is employed, all
transfer points, and storage activities are manual. Only in the transportation of salt
is machinery in the form of trucks or vans utilized consistently.
 Except afar salt production share company, the crystallization ponds all producers
used are not properly designed that can help to separate NaCl from other impurities
& compounds such as bromide, calcium, magnesium etc.
 They lack proper iodization facility and presently they are knapsack to spray iodine
solution to the coarse salt which does not help homogenously iodize the edible salt.
 There is an absence of analytical facilities at the producer level to carry out any
quantitative analysis on raw material or finished products.
 Most of the individuals who are licensed by the Regional Government did not
receive proper training on how salt produced. As a result, they produce very poor
quality & below standard salt that does not meet the requirement.
 Though the Ethiopia government gave remarkable emphasis and following this, a
regulation has been approved by the COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (No. 204/2011).
At production level there is no satisfactory work implemented by the responsible
authority.
 Professional unavailability on the sector.
 The industry lacks appropriate recognition from universities or other institutions to
work research on production of salt to improve the industrial development, market
 performance, competitiveness, studying the neighboring country needs to produce
salt the country at full capacity

The above stated characteristics will increase the level of difficulty to achieve a sustainable salt
iodization program & to supply chemical grade product to chloralkali and others industries. For one
such to succeed:

 Formal association of salt producers should be formed at national level by including the
three existed producer cooperatives. This will require a multi-disciplinary committee with
understanding of the social, economic and engineering issues involved to process of
improving and modernizing the salt industry. And the Government through the association
should develop a detailed strategic plan to bring about the necessary changes to the salt
industry in order to achieve the targeted goal.
 The present producers’ association should set the quota based on the grade and standards
set by the Ethiopia quality and standard agency which leads the producers investing in
better processing equipment and machineries. And the responsible authority should follow
at production site.
 3. Salt marketing potential

3.1. Africa (sub-Sahara) salt industry status

The North African countries have by far the most favorable conditions in the continent for solar salt
manufacture. These include Tunisia, Egypt. Algeria, and Morocco major exporter. Besides they
supply to their region, exported to Europe and to sub-Saharan countries.

3.1.1 Salt demand and supply in the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) region

There is almost no salt production in the entire Central and West African region except for Ghana
and Senegal. In the ECOWAS sub-region, the demand for industrial salt is estimated at over 3
million tones. Ghana and Senegal, the biggest regional players, possess all the right conditions for
commercial salt production and together produce 350,000 tons per year. But this is not enough to
satisfy demand and imports from Brazil, Australia and Europe make up the shortfall (21 August
2012, Modern Ghana economy times, Africa research library).

Table.2 Major Exporters of the sub region of salt 2008-2012 (quantity with value)

Exported 2008 Exported 2009 Exported 2010 Exported 2011 Exported 2012

Exporters
quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value
Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000

Senegal 276,007 17,743 242,103 15,337 239,255 15,037 263,165 18,532 248,315 16,950

Ghana 16,899 767 15,539 648 11,222 639 10,563 744 22,747 1,354

Source United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) -http://unstats.un.org/unsd/comtrade

Overall exported quantity by the region in year 2012 is 274,592 ton and its value 19.6 million US
dollar (see annex II), as we have seen in the above table Senegal the major exporter of the region.
Table.3 Major Importer of the sub region
Imported 2008 Imported 2009 Imported 2010 Imported 2011 Imported 2012

Importers quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value
Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000

Nigeria - 21,829 92,874 24,993 110,722 40,659 180,445 33,782 400,458 48,188

Mali 59,557 6,865 - - 64,234 6,822 86,616 8,904 82,562 6,348

Niger 43,369 4,733 40,027 3,215 31,192 2,961 43,629 4,908 56,681 5,868

Benin 29,068 3,164 29,874 3,350 31,261 3,464 32,436 5,007 46,886 5,121

Burkina
38,578 4,269 46,632 4,999 44,846 4,645 37,100 4,137 45,990 4,643
Faso

Ghana 1,791 346 5,265 661 3,016 580 8,466 1,796 12,536 2,593

Liberia 7,071 1,081 - 1,150 - 677 10,377 1,251 `6,553 771

Source United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) -http://unstats.un.org/unsd/comtrade

As it is observed in the above tables Nigeria is the major importer of the region and its demand in
2012 was 400,458 tons which is more than overall exported by the region. Year 2012, the trade
balance in the sub-region was -66 million US dollar (net importer), in order to fill the demand gap
the sub-region salt was imported salt from outside the sub region & continent. For instance, Nigeria
imported 386,766 ton of salt from Australia, Brazil, Israel, India, European community.

3.2.1 Salt demand and supply in the eastern & central Africa

Salt production techniques in most Sub-Saharan African countries are conventional and in some
areas primitive. Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania are the countries that able to produce
not only for their own consumption but also became net exporters. Other countries may have much
small salt producers scattered over a wide area, presenting a much greater challenge to effectively
use the resource and failed to produce in modern way. In this sub region particularly in central
Africa, there are countries that import all their salt. To determine the position the region salt
industry, let examine the following tables
Table.4 Exporters of east & central Africa countries (quantity with value)
Exported 2008 Exported 2009 Exported 2010 Exported 2011 Exported 2012

Exporters quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value
Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000

Kenya 239,515 40,091 241,862 30,904 257,626 28,568 277,076 31,053 279,205 35,534

Uganda 2,073 905 2,739 495 4,366 722 9,137 897 15,995 4,649

Rwanda 36 14 75 22 0 0 109 37 1,471 423

DR
411 51 669 21 230 20 0 0 32 6
Congo

Burundi 0 0 70 6 0 0 0 0 70 4

Eritrea 15,500 1,190 400 62 23 5 23 5 324 37

Somalia 0 0 10 4 0 0 0 0 50 6

Djibouti 0 0 88 4 87 17 0 0 7 5

Ethiopia 24 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sudan 0 0 101 20 177 33 0 0 0 0

Source United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Table.5 Importers of east & central Africa countries (quantity with value)
Imported 2008 Imported 2009 Imported 2010 Imported 2011 Imported 2012

Importers quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value quantity, Value
Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000 Tons USD,1000

Uganda 114,408 17,372 128,744 16,561 155,717 16,811 184,638 19,452 200,381 24,297

DR Congo 9,621 126,147 11,364 93,613 11,746

107,517 12,834 124,415 12,355 98,431
 Kenya 7,078 2,303 523 - 804
186,104 10,407 61,515 3,334 120,813

Rwanda 29,324 8,261 36,238 6,117 - - 40,449 3,731 48,570 5,360

CRAfrica 5,766 885 6,878 1,045 6,839 1,026 6,157 887 4,144 584

Burundi 1,841 286 692 125 10,619 1,471 23,814 3,528 24,008 2,684

Sudan 201 275 228 108 1,031 371 4,014 577 4,074 1,263

Ethiopia 941 158 3,631 397 1815 409 506 225 867 244

Somalia 1,596 83 587 73 62 19 73 27 29 23

Source United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

It is clearly indicated in the tables, only Kenya is the only net exporter of the region. Others
countries yet net importer. In 2012 overall imported quantity in region is 468,432 ton with the value
58.5 million US dollar, out of which Kenya 279,205 ton supplied & earned 35.534 US dollar.
As per study, by Thomas R. Yager entitled “The Mineral Industry of Kenya”; There are three major
companies in Kenya that produces for domestic & export market

1. Kensalt Ltd. Plant at Mombasa- 120,000 ton/annum

2. Magadi Soda Ash Ltd. (Brunner Mond Group Ltd.), Plant at Magadi - 45,000 ton per annum. 3.
Mombasa Salt Works Ltd. and others Mines near Malindina unmentioned capacity played a major
role in the export market.

3.2. Salt marketing & distribution of the Ethiopia

Current salt production in Ethiopia is more than 1,283.684 ton. Out of this, as per the new released
report by trade minister of Ethiopia 48,000 ton per month set for domestic market, which is only
96% of the country’s resource (produced salt) wasted at the production site. Yet the country is
importing high grade quality salt from foreign market to satisfy chloralkali industries and for
population willing to spend more money buying food compatible salt. The following table listed
imported quantity with value and the exporters.
 Table.6 general trends of the markets imported by Ethiopia, from 2008-2012

Exporters Imported in 2008 Imported 2009 Imported in 2010 Imported in 2011 Imported in 2012
no Qty, US Unit Qty USD Unit Qty, USD Unit Qty USD Unit Qty USD
Exporters
ton 1000 price Ton 1000 price ton 1000 price ton 1000 price ton 1000

1. World (Total ) 941 158 3,631 397 1815 409 506 225 867 244
2. Saudi Arabia 240 55 438 99 44 13 329 123 207 74
3. China 39 30 26 24 52 35 16 24 94 48
4. Italy 0 0 47 9 233 63 0 0 219 31
5. Pakistan 0 0 501 59 400 49 0 0 223 31
6. USA 2 3 7 6 9 12 19 12 24 17
7. Germany 0 0 2 13 0 0 0 0 6 11
8. United Arab
0 0 20 8 506 181 2 2 7 5
Emirates
9. Egypt 17 6 66 20 0 0 19 6 0 0
10
Sudan 0 0 700 24 400 14 0 0 0 0
.
11
Namibia 0 0 118 17 98 12 0 0 0 0
.
12
Somalia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 3
.
13
United Kingdom 4 2 2 4 3 3 4 6 12 4
.
14. Finland, Malaysia
Morocco,
Netherlands, 0 0 0 3
Thailand, Ukraine,
Greece, Lebanon

Source: Ethiopia customs and revenue authority

Table.6 indicated that Ethiopia in year 2012, imported 867 tons of salt amounted to over US$
244,000

3.2.1 Prospects of chloralkali industry in Ethiopia

The potential of Ethiopia’s salt industry could be brighten by the ongoing construction of chemical
factories that will manufacture polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other industrial chemicals. PVC and
allied industries uses large quantity of salt during production. PVC resin is used in plastic factories
to produce hoses, pipes, and boots. Some of the other chemicals to be produced by the plant are to
include caustic soda, calcium hydrochloride, acetylene, chlorine, calcium carbide, and hydrochloric
acid. The growth and transformation plan (GTP) of Ethiopia has given more emphasis for
industrialization, and by virtue of the plan companies engaged in the chemical industries are
currently in their finalization stage to establish an integrated chemical industry that has expected to
utilize from 82,000---160,000 ton of high grade salt (NaCl) per annum.

4. Requirement of the chloro-alkaline industry and export market

Export requirement of salt

4.1 Effects of impurities in salt on the chemical industry

Sodium chloride in salt is always the same. It is the "non-salt" in salt - the impurities - that make
the difference. In fact, the multiplicity of impurities in salt, their relative quantities and how they
influence the salt properties are so variable, that every salt needs to be considered on its own
merits. Except for insoluble, the origin of impurities is the sea water. Solar sea salts, as a rule just
few months old, are rather similar. Rock salts, millions of years old, may vary greatly, from pure to
dirty, from white to black. Lake salts contain components leached from the ground of the
surrounding rocks in variable quantities. Salt lake chemistry is a science of its own. Insoluble are
found in salts of all origins in greatly fluctuating quantities. In the chemical industry, salt is mostly
dissolved together with the impurities in water or brine.

Prior to feeding the brine to the process, it is purified. Failure to purify the brine adequately may
have serious, even lethal consequences:

 Calcium and magnesium will damage the ion exchange membranes irreversibly. Erratic
impurity content in salt may cause hardness breakthrough to the membrane cells.
Membranes cost a fortune. The purer the salt, the more remote is the danger of membrane
damage.
 In electrolytic cells, excessive magnesium will cause hydrogen evolution on the anode.
Hydrogen and chlorine form an explosive mixture. Explosion in the cells or in the chlorine
liquefaction may damage the equipment and release chlorine to the environment.
 Impure brine in mercury cells will cause butter formation. Butter will disturb mercury flow,
causing short circuits that burn the electrodes. Alternatively, a large electrode gap must be
 maintained which will increase the power consumption. Butter removal will expose workers
to mercury vapors that are damaging to health. Disposal of mercury butter is costly and
undesirable for the environment.
 Sludge from brine purification in chloro alkali plants with mercury cells is contaminated
with mercury. Sludge decontamination by distillation requires high temperatures, is costly
and never complete. The disposal of mercury contaminated sludge is environmentally
objectionable and very costly. Avoiding the formation of sludge is better than having to
dispose of it. This requires salt of high purity.
 In soda ash production, excessive sulphate reduces the value of the product. Accumulating
calcium in the process causes encrustation. Periodical scale removal is costly and leads to
loss of production.

Due to the above reason the chloro alkaline industries made quality conscious consumers of salt.
Technology & process to purify solar salt production processes, technology & engineering
annexed.

Table.7 required specifications by chloro alkaline industries

S.N Description % by weight % by weight

1 Sodium chloride(NaCl) 98 min 99.7
2. Calcium (as Ca++) 0.3 max 0.04
++
3. Magnesium (as Mg ) 0.1 max 0.004
4. Sulphate (as SO4), 0.06 max 0.11
5. Water insoluble 0.04 max 0.04 max
6. Moisture 1.5 max 1.5 max

5. Afar salt production Share Company

This paper provides a quick review of export market along with some data to initiate a
feasibility study on market assessment analysis for afar salt production Share Company. This
company became financially stable and successful in a matter of just a few years due to the rise of
selling price of edible salt in the country & its ----
The paper will try to provide some content to analyze and evaluate the company’s strengths and
weaknesses along with relevant opportunities and threats to determine whether this company can
sustain its profitability in its country where currently there is low product demand. The paper
provides a discussion of market analysis and alternatives for global competition (targeted sub-
Sahara countries) and expansion in the salt industry.

5.1 Afar Salt production share company Background

Afar salt production share company (ASPSC) is one of the major salt producers in Ethiopia with a
designed capacity of 50,000tons 0f salt (NaCl) per year with prospects of expansion. The company has
been established in 2001 with major share of Ethiopian mineral development Share Company, a state
owned enterprise.
It is located in Afdera woreda, zone2 of the Afar national regional state 820KM from Addis Ababa. The
region is true desert; it is 101meters below sea level as is most of the Danakil depression. Very low
rainfall and very high evaporation rate of the area makes solar salt production very attractive in Afdera.

 The leading company in salt packing & iodized semi automatically in Ethiopia.
 It has more than 15 professionals including engineers, senior economists, senior
accountants, technicians in different fields. .
 Playing a catalytic role in the salt industry progress & development of the country.
 The company is well established in production site, made the only company investing in the
region owning heavy duty machineries and facility and/or equipment such as: Residential
building, Office buildings & clinic, Store buildings, Work shop, Garage, Pump station &
generator house and Water supply system.

Currently Afar salt production share company is on progress to begin a project salt purification
refining process in the country. The primary targeted markets are chemical industries, such as
Dejena PVC factory, AAWSA and others that have expected to utilize from 82,000---160,000 ton
of high grade salt (NaCl) per annum. And at the same time, the company will cover and identify
possible detail export market that can be developed in the short term and long term. This market
helps us for back-up, if the expected domestic chemical industries establishment failed to contact
with us.

5.2 Possible Export market

This section will deal with analyzing trade data on product HS250100 Salt (including table salt &
denatured salt pure sodium chloride & sea water) within Africa particularly sub- Sahara regions.
This will enable us to determine the current status of the regions and identify countries that import
and export and gauging our country/ Afar salt production share company competitiveness by
answering questions such as:

- Which countries import and how much?

- What countries supply the majority of the product?
- What is my country’s current trade performance on this product?
- In what position the trade flows between my country and the regions stands?

Table.8 Major salt importers in sub-Sahara region with their exporters

Importers Major Quantity Value Unit Explanatory note
exporters Ton USD,1000 value
Total 775,248 94,122
Nigeria Australia 275,455 16,443
Brazil 59,402 3,513
Namibia 44,301 19,720
Tunisia 39 3,028
Israel 5,252 863
India 4,059 610

European 1155
community
China 142 190

Total 400,458 48,188

Uganda Kenya 199,557 24,122 121 Consumption for human 123,355 ton salt
`India 265 67 252 (annex). 184, 381 ton that imported used for
China 170 46 270 industrial purpose and by adding value
Emirates 55 22 400 exported to the neighboring countries. There
New Zealand 48 19 396 is no salt production but there are plants that
Namibia 63,255 6,494 103 purify for its own and export.
Total 200,381 24,297
Democratic Uganda ` 1,576 2,503 1588 257,570ton consumed for human
Republic of Tanzania 7,130 874 122.6
the Congo United 1,960 580 296
Kingdom

Total 93,613 11,746

Source: extracted from United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
 Importers Major Quantity Value Unit Explanatory note
exporters Ton USD,1000 value
Rwanda Kenya 32,951 3,864
Uganda 12,954 1,164
United
Republic of 2,568 271
Tanzania
Emirates 49 30
Germany 42 28
Total 48,570 5,360
Burundi Tanzania 23,114 2,442 106
Kenya 559 98 175
Belgium 292 122 418
Emirate 34 20 588
24,008 2,684
Central Namibia 2,822 410 145
Africa Egypt 1,218 146 120
republic Cameroon 57 17 298
Senegal 48 10 208
4,144 584
Sudan Kenya 1,200 145

Total 4,074 1,263

Source: extracted from United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
In Table, the first line of the table, the “total” imported quantity in the region was 775,248 tons of
salt amounted to over US$ 94.122 million in 2006. Kenya and Namibia are countries in sub region.
Eastern and central Africa: Kenya targeted eastern and middle Africa countries, and exporting 65%
of sub region imported product. North & West Africa 16.4% exporting to sub region, Uganda and
Tanzania are account each 8.4%, the rest 2% Asia and Europe exported to the region.
Uganda was largest import market in the region with 56% share of imported, however the country
also exported by adding value exported to the neighboring countries.
Western Africa: Nigeria imported 400,458 tons of salt with the value US$ 48.188 million, Namibia
was the only major supplier in the sub region amounted 44,301tons US$ 19,720 million, Australia,
Brazil and outside the region controlled the market.
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Draft project report for establishment of Assab salt works export facility Summary report, 1974
ICCIDD-CIDA Project - (Analysis of IDD /USI in Ethiopia)
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Addis Ababa water and sewerage authority, Legedadi project consultant office
Report for MI concerning USI in Ethiopia, Cox & Speller, March 2013 Kosmosenergy.org.
Anonymous, 2004a. Salt production from 1990-2004.
Ethiopia revenue & customs authority website
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Head Office, Addis Ababa,
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Afar salt production share company different documents