The Coordinating Ministry for Food has set an import quota for industrial chlor-alkali plant (CAP) salt at 1.18 million tons for 2026 to pursue salt self-sufficiency. Non-CAP salt imports will only be opened through a specific circumstances mechanism if domestic production falls short. This policy supports the goal of salt self-sufficiency by 2027 with no imports except in special cases.
JAKARTA — In pursuit of salt self-sufficiency, the Coordinating Ministry for Food has set the balance for industrial chlor-alkali plant (CAP) salt at 1.18 million tons for 2026. This decision was announced following the commodity food balance setting meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 30, 2025).
Deputi for Trade and Food Distribution Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Tatang Yuliono, explained that imports specifically for CAP industrial salt are capped at that figure. "For this salt commodity, specifically for industrial CAP, at 1.18 million tons," he said.
For non-CAP salt, such as various food salts and pharmaceutical salts, the government applies a "specific circumstances" mechanism activated after calculating domestic production sufficiency through coordination meetings. "For non-CAP salt, like various food salts and pharmaceutical salts, it uses the specific circumstances mechanism," Tatang stated.
The balance setting process is based on supply-demand analysis, following verified proposals from business actors by related ministries, discussed at echelon I level, and decided at the ministerial meeting. The government refers to the policy for accelerating national salting development with a self-sufficiency target by 2027. "By 2027, we have set no imports except in specific circumstances," Tatang added.
This determination aims to provide supply certainty for CAP salt-using industries while strengthening domestic production. National salt production in 2025 reportedly plummeted, keeping the self-sufficiency target challenging.
