Salt is your go-to ingredient for transforming boring foods into savoury treats.
But did you know that it is also the silent powerhouse behind countless industrial products and processes?
From de-icing roads to industrial water treatment, it is a critical part of a range of manufacturing operations.
As one of the leading manufacturers of industrial salt, we at The Sharad Group have supplied lakhs of metric tons of salt to industry leaders.
And in this blog, I’m going to tell you about 7 such industries that rely heavily on manufacturing-grade salt to create useful products and make everyday life just a little better.
Let’s dive in!
7 Industries That Rely on Industrial Salt: Table of Contents
- 7 Industries That Rely on Industrial Salt Every Day
- The Sharad Group: Your Reliable Industrial Salt Suppliers
- Industries That Rely on Industrial Salt: FAQs
7 Industries That Rely on Industrial Salt Every Day
While there are several industries that depend on industrial salt to power their production, here are the 7 that rely most heavily on sodium chloride:
1. Chemical Industry
The chemical industry serves as a representative for numerous ancillary industries, including those involved in plastics, detergents, paper, and PVC production.
All of these segments use industrial salt to create chlorine, caustic soda, and soda ash.
Industrial salt thus plays a crucial role in ensuring a steady supply of all the consumer goods I’ve mentioned above.
These industries mainly use electrolysis to break salt brine into chlorine and sodium hydroxide.
And in doing so, the chemical industry consumes a whopping 38% of global salt production!
That’s why the chemical industry is one of the most important clients of industrial salt producers.
2. Food Processing & Preservation
One of the most important uses of salt is in the food processing industry.
It enhances the flavour of bland foods and even extends the shelf life of food as a preservative.
Industrial salt is also the critical ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria in meat, dairy products, canned foods, and snacks.
Apart from industrial salt, this industry also uses black, iodized, refined and specialty salts for processing and preservation.
3. Water Treatment & Purification
Industries use water treatment salt to break down “hard water” through ion exchange to remove impurities.
It is most commonly used in municipal industrial water treatment plants.
Plus, sodium chloride can also regenerate water-softening resins, increasing their reusability and driving down the cost of wastewater treatment.
So, wastewater treatment is another very important use of industrial salt!
4. De-Icing and Road Safety
Did you know that the United States alone uses 30 million metric tons of industrial salt every single year for de-icing?
That’s because rock salt can melt ice on roads, highways, and even runways in extremely cold climates.
Thus, industrial salt is critical to ensuring that our roads remain functional during the winters and snow-covered days of the year.
5. Oil & Gas Drilling
The oil & gas industry is another important client for all industrial salt manufacturers around the world.
It is most commonly used to stabilize drilling muds around oil wells. It thus controls the pressure of the pump on the well and prevents costly and life-threatening blowouts.
Nowadays, industrial salt has become even more important for the oil & gas industry with the rise of deep-sea and shale drilling operations!
6. Agriculture & Animal Feed
Industrial salt goes beyond just preserving the food we consume.
It also nourishes the source of our food: agricultural crops and livestock.
One of the most important uses of salt is as a supplement for livestock feed: it prevents deficiencies and ensures that livestock animals remain in optimal health.
In food crops, salt is used to enhance soil fertility, either through direct applications or use in fertilizers.
Salt is thus critical to promoting sustainable farming as well as maintaining livestock health.
7. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
If you’ve ever been in the unfortunate situation of requiring a saline drip treatment, it’s industrial salt that has saved your life!
It’s commonly used in antiseptics to prevent bacterial, viral or fungal sepsis.
Plus, it’s an important part of IV fluids and ORS solutions.
It ensures both medical safety and the sterility of medical fluids.
The Sharad Group: Your Reliable Industrial Salt Suppliers
The industrial salt industry is projected to grow to $21 billion by 2031.
And the major drivers behind this growth are the industries we’ve discussed in this blog.
From chemical manufacturing to wastewater treatment and food processing to medical safety, the uses of industrial salt have made it an indispensable part of our daily lives.
At The Sharad Group, we have been supplying high-concentration industrial salt to a wide range of industry leaders across India and around the world.
So, whether you need industrial salt for de-icing, drilling mud, water treatment, chemical production, or food processing, we have the rich sources and a robust supply chain to fulfil your operational requirements.
Reach out to us for free samples and a preliminary quote for high-purity industrial salt to power your growth today!
Industries That Rely on Industrial Salt: FAQs
1. What is industrial salt, and how is it different from table salt?
Industrial salt is less refined than table salt and has larger crystals. That’s because it’s used primarily in manufacturing, water treatment, and de-icing, as opposed to cooking or as table salt.
2. Which industry uses the most industrial salt?
From the latest studies as well as my personal experience, I’ve found that the chemical industry consumes around 38% of global salt production to make chlorine, caustic soda, and plastics, making it the top client for industrial salt manufacturers around the world.
3. Can industrial salt be used in food processing?
Yes! Food-grade industrial salt preserves meats, enhances flavours, and prevents spoilage in snacks and canned goods. We supply high-purity salt for food safety.
4. Why is salt used in wastewater treatment?
The main reason industrial salt is used in wastewater treatment is that it softens hard water, removes impurities via ion exchange. Plus, it can also regenerate water-softening resins, thus increasing its reusability and cutting costs for both industries and municipalities.
5. Where can I buy bulk industrial salt in India?
You can buy industrial salt in bulk in India from us at The Sharad Group. We supply high-quality industrial salt for de-icing, drilling, and chemicals. Contact us for free samples, a tailored quote, and competitive bulk pricing!
