Rajkot: Covid-19 killer pandemic, increased shipping costs and many restrictions on Indian crew and cargo imposed by China has resulted in a massive reduction in salt exports from India.
China is the largest Indian salt importer with almost 50 lakh tons sent every year.
However, this has been reduced to only 15 lakh tons in the period June 2020 to June 2021 compared to 50 lakh tons in the comparative period last year, according to data distributed by the Indian Salt producer association (ISMA).
This period marks the end of the salt season.
This is the second year in a row exported to China has fallen.
Last year, exports fell due to locking around the world and US-Chinese trade war.
According to exporter, some ports in China do not allow ships with Indian sailors while some others have strict rules.
Indian sailors or crew members, who have been in India in 21 days before entering the port area, need to undergo NAT test and cargo operations can begin only after all members of the crew test negative.
There are several ports that demand special applications before the ship coming from India enters their area and after approved applications, the ship will be taken to a special area.
If there are crew members who have symptoms such as covid including cough or fever, ship entries are rejected.
Last week, all Indian sailors and general trade unions wrote to the central government who accused China had clamped an unofficial ban on Indian sailors from entering its waters.
Moreover, salt is the cheapest commodity but the accusation of shipping also skyrocketed.
Shamji Kangad, Vice President of Isma, said “Shipping accusations have increased from around $ 12 per ton to almost $ 25 per ton throughout the world.
But, for shipping to China, the same accusation doubled three due to the limitation of Indian crew members.
Time turnover Ships also increased in the Chinese port because of this restriction.
China is the largest salt producer in the world but imported large quantities of India to export back to US countries and Europe where it is used for industrial and de-icing needs.
They prefer to import from China because Logistics Comfort.
Bharat Raval, President of Isma, added, “Qatar, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Bhutan is the main importers of salt from China.
Covid and the Freight Rate are both the main reason for the fall of export drastically.
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