Is a long-term salt deficit expected in Latvia? Explained by the importer

Due to the increased demand for salt, the supply of SIA “Latvijas sāls prekybos kompānija” (LSTK) may be temporarily interrupted, however, there is no reason to worry about the long-term shortage of salt, says Ilmārs Krivads, the head of LSTK.

LSTK is able to supply the stores with the previously planned volumes, but due to the current geopolitical situation, an unjustified agitation has developed, for which no salt trader is ready, Krivads said.

LSTK’s salt stock was created on standard demand in February and March. The stockpile is being built for two to three months, but currently the salt is being bought out en masse.

“Of course, seeing empty salt shelves in stores causes psychological unrest, so people buy out salt, and we as salt suppliers and producers are not happy about the situation,” Krivad said.

Until now, LSTK bought salt from Ukraine and Belarus due to its cheap price, but currently, due to the war, deliveries from Ukraine are not possible, while shipments from Belarus are not possible due to political sanctions.

In the future, salt will be purchased from other European countries, including Poland, Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands and Denmark.

LSTK has placed orders for salt, which is already on its way, but it is possible to take into account possible interruptions in the supply of salt, because “salt is a cheap but heavy product, and it is not possible to deliver several tons of salt quickly,” Krivads said.

He also said that the crisis would lead to an increase in prices.

“Such situations happen from time to time – it was at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was when Latvia joined the eurozone, and also when we joined the European Union (EU). This time, too, the anxiety of the population will subside,” Krivads said.

Urging residents not to be alarmed, Krivads emphasized that salt would soon be available in stores, and that redemption was unreasonable because “salt is, was and will be”.

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