Indonesia targets salt import ban by 2029

The Indonesian government aims to achieve salt self-sufficiency and halt all salt imports by 2029. To reach this goal, national production is projected to grow to 2.5 million tons by 2026, 3.5 million tons by 2027, and 5 million tons by 2029.

While consumption-grade salt has been self-sufficient since 2014, the country still relies on imports for industrial salt used in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors. These industries require high-specification salt and a consistent, sustainable supply.

To address production challenges caused by traditional evaporation methods and weather dependency, the government is developing the National Salt Industry Center (K-SIGN) in Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara. The project targets a total area of 2,000 hectares. The first phase, covering 616 hectares, has completed production trials, while the second phase of 751 hectares is under development with an initial harvest expected in November 2026.