For over 30 years, Vipan Kumar has been a key player in the Himalayan pink salt trade, importing the product from Pakistan to sell in India. However, recent events have put a sudden stop to his business. Following a tragic incident in April that left 26 people dead in Pahalgam, Indian authorities imposed a ban on all imports from Pakistan, including goods that might come through other countries. This decision has hit Kumar hard, halting his sales completely.
Kumar, who is based in Amritsar, Punjab, typically sells between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of pink salt every three months. He explained that while profit margins are slim, the volume of sales made the business viable. Now, he faces uncertainty about when, or if, trade with Pakistan will resume.
Himalayan pink salt, known for its distinctive color due to trace minerals like iron, is popular for cooking, decorative lamps, and spa treatments. It is particularly favored by Hindus during religious fasts because it is a non-marine salt.
The salt is primarily mined at the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which is the second-largest salt mine in the world. The mine produces about 0.36 million metric tonnes of salt each year, with a significant portion exported to India. Kumar expressed concern about the future, saying he is unsure when the situation will normalize.
The ban has already started to impact prices in India. Traders are reporting increases, with prices rising from around 45-50 rupees per kilogram to at least 60 rupees. In some cities like Kolkata, prices have gone up even more, reaching between 70 and 80 rupees per kilogram. As stocks dwindle, traders worry about a potential crisis.
The trade halt is part of a broader pattern of declining relations between India and Pakistan, particularly since a deadly attack in Pulwama in 2019. That incident led India to revoke Pakistan’s Most Favored Nation status and impose heavy tariffs, which have further strained trade. Before the recent ban, India imported 74,457 metric tonnes of pink salt in 2018, but that number dropped significantly to just 642 metric tonnes in 2024.
Pakistani exporters, however, see the ban as an opportunity. They believe it will allow them to expand their market reach by eliminating competition from Indian traders who have historically branded and sold Pakistani salt at higher prices abroad.
As the situation develops, some Indian traders are calling for the government to seek alternative sources for pink salt to avoid future disruptions. With demand remaining high, especially during festivals, the search for alternatives may become increasingly urgent.