As of October 2026, most of Gujarat's salt exports go to East Asia, led by China, South Korea and Japan. Bentonite is sold more widely, with buyers across Asia, the Gulf and beyond.
Both trades shift from year to year with industrial demand, freight costs and competing suppliers, so treat any ranking as a snapshot, not a fixed picture.
Salt
India has become one of the world's largest salt exporters, and most of that salt comes from Gujarat. A shipping analysis published in August 2025 reported that India shipped about 17.3 million tonnes by sea in 2024. It found that in the first seven months of 2025, China took about 5.5 million tonnes, South Korea about 1.7 million tonnes, and Japan about 0.6 million tonnes.
The same analysis found that most cargoes loaded at Deendayal (Kandla), with Mundra next. Much of this is industrial salt for chlor-alkali and soda ash plants. Trade data for 2022 from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, ranked by value, also lists Qatar, Indonesia and Vietnam among the leading markets, and shows Bangladesh among the fastest growing.
Bentonite
Bentonite exports are smaller and spread across more countries. One commercial trade-data service, ranking India's bentonite exports by value for its latest year, lists China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ukraine, Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Thailand and the UAE as the top ten. It says India exports bentonite to more than 80 countries.
The Indian Minerals Yearbook notes that India exports both crude and processed bentonite, including activated grades. Crude bentonite accounts for most of the tonnage, while processed bentonite earns more per tonne. Demand comes from foundries, drilling, iron ore pelletising, cat litter and civil works, as described in bentonite grades.
Why the rankings differ
- Sources use different product codes, such as HS 2501 for salt and HS 2508.10 for bentonite.
- Some rank by tonnage and others by value, which favours higher-grade products.
- Single years can swing sharply when one large buyer changes supplier.
- Commercial data services may use different or partial customs records.
How to check current data
For the latest figures, use official sources. UN Comtrade publishes country-level trade by HS code. India's Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) and the Ministry of Commerce export data portal publish Indian figures. Your own customs authority will show imports from India into your market.
Look up the six-digit HS code for your product and compare at least two years. Our article on HS codes for chemicals explains how to find the right code.
What this means for you
If you buy salt in a market far from East Asia, you are a smaller buyer competing for vessel space and supplier attention. Good preparation helps. Bring a clear specification, steady volumes and a firm shipping plan, as set out in the MOQ for bulk minerals and salt.
Next step
We find and audit suppliers that already ship to markets like yours, and check their documents and loading records. To discuss your market, book a free sourcing review.