BEIJING: The demand for Pakistani Himalayan pink salt items, such as salt lamps and bath salt, has increased recently in China, said Hussain Haider, the Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai.
Speaking at a webinar on promoting Pakistani pink salt, recently held by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai, he said that Pakistan could increase its export of salt products to China by improving its marketing and packaging.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China, pink salt exports from Pakistan to China increased by 15.68 percent year over year to $4,968,223 in 2021 and $5,747,492 in 2022, demonstrating the market’s steady growth and the product’s bright future.
Several elements, including greater consumer knowledge of the health advantages of pink salt among Chinese consumers, marketing activities, and the development of potent business alliances between Pakistani exporters and Chinese importers, can be helpful in this regard.
In addition to helping Pakistan’s salt sector, the export increase has given the country’s economy a much-needed boost. The mining and processing industries have added new jobs due to increased demand, which has helped the local economy expand.
In a webinar, Ismail Suttar, chairman of the Pakistani Salt Manufacturers Association (SMAP) and president of the Employers Federation of Pakistan, made clear that the Pakistani government is actively looking into ways to increase production capacity and upgrade infrastructure as the demand for pink salt rises. With these initiatives, the salt industry will be sustained and have the best chance to fulfill the growing demand from China and other worldwide markets.
In the webinar, Wang Zihai, Pakistan’s Honorary Investment Counsellor in China, explained how pink salt lamps, a key export of pink salt from Pakistan to China, function as an air purifier by eradicating dust, allergies, smoke, odors, and mold spores. A popular choice among Chinese consumers, it may also be utilized as decoration and a nightlight to create a calming ambiance. In addition to lamps, he continued Pakistan’s favorable products, which have enormous potential in the Chinese market, including BBQ salt, bath salt, and ornamental salt.
Pakistani Himalayan pink salt exports to China in the first half of this year totaled $2,694,493, a modest decline of 5% from $2,839,582 in the same period the previous year. At the webinar to promote the export of Pakistani pink salt to China, over 30 businesses from China and Pakistan further discussed their perspectives to make up for the fall.
They also agreed that efforts should be made to promote the distinctive qualities of pink salt through various marketing channels, such as trade shows and social media platforms, to appeal to the Chinese market. Pakistani salt exporters should ensure the quality and authenticity of their products, implement extensive quality control measures, and maintain the high standards that Chinese consumers demand. —APP
