The price of industrial salt or bentonite per ton depends on the grade and its test values, moisture, particle size, packing, the loading port and the freight to your port. Two offers at different numbers can be for different products, so the quote has to be compared against a written specification.
This article gives no per-ton figures for industrial salt price or bentonite price. It explains the drivers and how to get a reliable quote for your own grade.
Grade and test values
For salt, purity and the level of insolubles, calcium, magnesium and sulphate set the grade, so industrial, chlor-alkali, de-icing and edible salt are priced differently. See salt grades and industrial salt purity.
For bentonite, swelling index, viscosity, moisture and particle size matter, and the use sets the grade, whether foundry, drilling, civil engineering or cat litter. See bentonite grades and the swelling index. A higher-performing grade costs more to select and process.
Moisture, size and processing
You pay by weight, so moisture is a cost. Wet salt or bentonite carries water you cannot use, so set a moisture limit and test at loading. Our guide on checking moisture and purity at loading explains how.
Crushing, drying, screening, activation and washing all add cost, so a fine, dry, screened product costs more than a coarse one.
Packing, port and freight
- Bulk cargo costs less to handle than bags, but it needs a suitable vessel and port. See how salt is shipped.
- Jumbo bags and 25 kg or 50 kg bags suit smaller lots and containers; bentonite is often bagged for container shipments. See bentonite in bulk or bags.
- The loading port and the distance from the mine or works to that port change inland transport cost.
- Freight depends on vessel size, route and the freight market, which changes. See freight options for bulk minerals.
- Incoterm, demurrage terms and insurance.
Why per-ton quotes are hard to compare
A per-ton number only makes sense with its basis: FOB or CIF, bulk or bagged, tonnes of net or gross weight, tolerance on quantity and the test values. Ask suppliers to write all of these. Also check the minimum order, since smaller lots can cost more per ton. See MOQ for bulk minerals and salt.
Market reports can give context on trends, but they refer to specific grades and routes. Read how bulk mineral prices are set before you rely on one.
Quality points that change the quote
Salt and bentonite are natural products, so the quality varies with the source and the season. Ask for the mine or works, the test values from recent lots and a sample drawn from current production.
Agree the limits for moisture, purity, particle size and swelling in the contract, and agree who tests at loading. Our guide on tests on a bentonite or salt COA explains what the certificate should show.
How to get a real per-ton quote
Send the same specification, pack, quantity, port and Incoterm to each supplier, and ask for validity in days. Ask for a sample and a recent certificate of analysis, and plan an independent test at loading. Our guides on buying industrial salt from India and buying bentonite from India cover the supplier side.
We find and audit producers, check samples and documents, and supervise loading. To get quotes for your grade, book a free sourcing review.