Drought benefits salt harvest in southern Catalonia

Catalonia has been suffering an ongoing drought for the past four years that has been affecting the primary sector. However, the salt mines in Delta de l'Ebre, in southern Catalonia, are being benefited by it.  

Although there are no expectations to surpass the record numbers of last year's salt harvest, it is expected to reach 120,000 tons of salt in total. 

According to Joan Sucarrats, the manager of Infosa, the company that exploits the salt pans in Punta de la Banya, there have been perfect climate conditions to create a "very good" harvest: little rain, dry environment, and lots of wind.  

In order to maintain these expectations, the climate conditions have to stay the same during the next three weeks. 

"These past two years with an intense drought that is good for us, as it favors the evaporation and crystallization of the salt," Sucarrats explains. 

The expectations to harvest 120,000 tons of salt would surpass the average collected in the past years between 95,000 and 100,000 tons.

However, that will not exceed the 140,000 tons collected in 2023. 

"We have seen good seasons in the past two years, and it was time because we had suffered the consequences of two huge storms that hit Catalonia in the past," Sucarrats says. 

"These good seasons are allowing us to recover the safety stocks," he pointed out.  

According to data provided by the company, 70% of the salt produced in Delta de l'Ebre is exported.  

These exportations go mainly to the European Union as well as the USA, where 20% of the production is shipped.  

"In the past years there has been an increase in the export markets, which has translated into a rise of demand," Joan Sucarrats says.