Pakistan’s salt exports to China witnessed a significant 40% increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, showcasing a strong uptick in bilateral trade relations under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), Pakistan exported more than 13.64 million kilograms of salt to China between January and March 2025, valued at approximately $1.83 million. In comparison, exports during the same period in 2024 amounted to $1.30 million.
The surge reflects China’s growing demand for high-quality salt in its chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries. It also signals Pakistan’s improved export competitiveness, supported by enhanced logistics, stricter quality assurance, and favorable pricing strategies.
Ghulam Qadir, Trade and Investment Counsellor at Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing, highlighted that the exported salt was classified under three primary categories: edible salt, pure sodium chloride, and other salt variants.
Industry experts believe this momentum is the result of Pakistan’s strategic efforts to meet international standards and capitalize on China’s expanding industrial base. A senior official from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) welcomed the development, calling it a “positive indicator” of the country’s growing capacity to diversify its export base.
This upward trend not only strengthens Pakistan’s position as a reliable supplier in the Chinese market but also reinforces the broader vision of increasing trade under CPEC-linked initiatives.
As trade dynamics evolve and demand in China continues to rise, Pakistan’s salt industry may well become a key contributor to the country’s export economy in the years ahead.
