Intense summer heat and high wind speeds have driven salt production to peak levels across Ramanathapuram district this season. However, despite the bumper harvest, salt pan owners and workers are facing financial distress due to a sharp drop in market prices.India currently ranks third globally in salt production, with Gujarat leading the nation, followed by Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. In Tamil Nadu, seawater salt harvesting is heavily concentrated in the coastal belts of Thoothukudi, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram.In Ramanathapuram, more than 25,000 acres are dedicated to salt pans across key production hubs, including Valinokkam, Thirupullani, Devipattinam, Thiruppalaikudi, and Koperimadam, yielding an average of 20 lakh tons annually. Notably, Tamil Nadu Government Salt Corporation operates a sprawling 5,000-acre facility near Sayalkudi in Valinokkam, complete with salt pans, a purification plant, an iodised salt production unit, and administrative offices.The district produces salt categorised for both dietary consumption and industrial applications. The bulk of the harvest is transported to Thoothukudi for industrial processing and the manufacturing of iodised table salt.Salt production in Tamil Nadu traditionally runs from April through September, coming to a halt in October with the arrival of the northeast monsoon, said sources.Local workers say the economic impact has been stark. Continuous heatwaves beginning in April, paired with strong winds, has accelerated evaporation this year, resulting in a massive surge in output. Despite the high yields, producers find themselves struggling with low returns. Traders attribute the price slump to surplus stockpiles.Traders and factories across Tamil Nadu heavily purchased and stored large inventories of lower-priced salt imported from Gujarat last year, dampening demand for the current local harvest.Kannan, an employee at a salt enterprise in Thirupullani, said, “This year, due to the intense heat and high wind speeds, salt is being produced in large quantities. However, we are not receiving adequate prices. Last year, a ton of salt sold between ₹3,000 to ₹3,500, but this year it sells for only ₹2,000 to ₹2,500.”Due to this, they are not generating sufficient income, he rued.With production costs remaining steady while market realisations shrink, salt pan owners and workers have urged authorities to intervene and stabilise prices to safeguard their traditional livelihood. Published - August 01, 2026 06:59 pm IST