Prices hit rock bottom, many salt warehouses in Nghe An are full of goods

Salt farmers in Quynh Nghia commune, Quynh Luu district produce salt. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In the salt fields of Quynh Nghia commune, Quynh Luu district (Nghe An), salt farmers are still actively producing salt, even though the price has hit rock bottom. This year's salt crop is considered by salt farmers to be favorable, because of the hot weather and high salinity of the sea water, so the crystallization time of salt is fast. However, salt farmers are more sad than happy because they are facing the chorus of good harvest but low prices.

Ms. Ho Thi Tung, a salt farmer and salt trader in Nghia Phu hamlet, Quynh Nghia commune, said: Salt prices have now dropped to the lowest level, from 800 - 1,000 VND/kg and consumption is also very slow, causing salt warehouses in the commune to be congested.

To make salt, salt farmers have to put in a lot of effort, but the low price means low income. Photo: Xuan Hoang

"Previously, the price of salt was from 1,500 to 2,500 VND/kg, salt farmers were excited because their income was commensurate with the effort they put in. But since the price of salt has dropped sharply, many salt farmers have become discouraged, but they still stick with the salt fields because this is their job," Ms. Tung shared.

Quynh Luu District is the locality with the largest annual salt output in the province. According to Mr. Bui Xuan Truc - Deputy Head of the District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first 7 months of the year, salt farmers in the district produced 40 thousand tons of salt. However, salt prices have dropped sharply since the beginning of the year, so salt producers have low incomes.

The salt warehouse of Mrs. Ho Thi Tung's family in Nghia Phu hamlet, Quynh Nghia commune is full but has not been sold yet. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Similarly, in Dien Chau district, the price of salt also decreased sharply; however, according to Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the characteristic of the salt industry in Dien Chau is that the people do not sell to traders, but retail to those who specialize in transporting salt to the mountains for consumption, so the price of salt here sold at the field is slightly higher, 1,200 VND/kg.In the first 7 months of 2020, Dien Chau district produced 5 thousand tons of salt.

The reason for the sharp drop in salt prices in Nghe An is partly due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, making it difficult to transport goods. Meanwhile, this year's hot weather has lasted for a long time, so salt farmers have produced a lot of salt, leading to "supply exceeding demand".