Salt Prices Jump 40% as Winter Storms Strain Supplies
Salt prices shot up 40% this week as harsh winter weather depleted supplies across the Northeast. The big price jump came after suppliers reduced their stockpiles, betting on mild winters like recent years.
“It’s been a very heavy salt usage year,” said Nathaniel Hunter to WCVB. “It’s still possible, just requires more work where, before, you could just pick up the phone, order the salt, it’s there in a day.”
To deal with the shortage, American Rock Salt ramped up production by 25%, while tapping into reserve supplies. They’ve bought new mining equipment to boost output further.
Local stores now bounce between different suppliers, trying to keep salt in stock. Staff at Green’s Hardware in Wellesley, Massachusetts have gone above and beyond to get their hands on salt.
“The boss goes out and he tracks it down goes out and picks it up himself,” said Jerry Cunha to WCVB. “A lot of people just dump it out and that’s really not good, you want to make sure you spread it evenly.”
With salt getting scarce, snow removal companies suggest mixing it with water to make it last longer. Better spreading techniques help reduce waste, but getting enough salt is still tough.
The shortage is hitting both private companies and city workers hard. Town crews are keeping a close eye on their salt piles as more storms approach.
Desperate contractors are driving all over looking for supplies. Many are paying top dollar, doing what they need to keep their clients’ properties safe from ice.