Nine companies chosen to import iodized salt

Nine companies chosen to import iodized salt

JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed nine companies to
import iodized salt to meet a shortfall on the domestic market,
Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said here on
Thursday.

"Their licenses have been issued and they are free to import
salt," Rahardi said, adding that the import of salt, which was
previously banned, would begin this month.

Imports will be stopped if local production rises to meet
domestic demand, he added.

The price of salt here has jumped from Rp 250 per kilogram
last month to Rp 800 per kilogram last week due to a scarcity in
supply.

The ministry has estimated that the country's salt production
will drop by 50 percent this year as a result of the prolonged
rainy season.

Domestic production was initially forecast to reach 1.1
million tons this year, while demand was expected to be 1.15
million tons over the same period. Domestic demand consists of
609,000 tons for household consumption, 360,000 for salted fish
and food products and 180,000 tons for industrial use.

According to the report, the government imported 756,000 tons
of salt between January and July this year.

Antara reported that seven of the nine companies licensed to
import salt would buy a total of 805,000 tons of salt from
Australia and India.

The companies are PT Union Chemical which will import 200,000
tons of salt, PT Garindo (60,000 tons), PT Surya Mandiri Utama
(45,000 tons), PT Budiono (160,000 tons), PT Inti Laut (40,000
tons), PT Susanti Megah (100,000 tons) and the state salt
producer PT Garam (200,000 tons).

Rahardi did not name the other two companies. (gis)