Press Release - EU Blue Economy Report 2025 Recognises Sea Salt Production
Brussels, 26 May 2025
EU Blue Economy Report 2025 Recognises Sea Salt Production: A Major Milestone for the European Salt Industry
EUsalt welcomes the inclusion of sea salt production in the 2025 edition of the EU Blue Economy Report, marking the first time this essential activity has been formally recognised within the Marine Non-Living Resources sector. This acknowledgement is a major step forward for the European salt industry, highlighting the critical role that sea salt plays in the EU’s economy, environment, and regional employment.
Published annually by the European Commission, the Blue Economy Report offers a comprehensive analysis of the EU’s ocean-related activities, serving as a key policy reference for identifying sustainable growth opportunities across Europe’s coastal and maritime sectors. The inclusion of "salt extraction from seawater" under the "Other minerals" category elevates sea salt production to a recognised subsector, highlighting its strategic position in the EU's blue economy.
This recognition is a direct result of EUsalt's engagement with the European Commission and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). By providing data, expertise and visibility on the contribution of sea salt, EUsalt has successfully placed this sector on the EU’s policy map.
The report highlights that seawater remains the largest source of evaporated salt in Europe, accounting for 53% of the continent’s production by this method. In 2023 alone, around 3 million tonnes of sea salt were produced in the EU. Solar salt extraction - dependent on warm temperatures, sunshine, and wind - thrives along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, including in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, and others. This regional specificity is essential for maintaining Europe’s salt autonomy and reducing import dependency.
The sea salt subsector is also an important economic driver. With more than 2,200 workers employed—two-thirds in large-scale industrial operations and around 850 in small-scale production - the sector generated an estimated EUR 432 million in turnover in 2023. The report also notes the involvement of 25 industrial-scale companies, with Spain and Italy leading in numbers. While the EU has the capacity to produce up to 5 million tonnes annually, actual output remains subject to weather conditions.
This formal recognition in a high-level European Commission underscores the value of proactive industry engagement and data-driven advocacy. It reaffirms sea salt’s place in Europe’s blue economy and strengthens the salt sector’s voice in key EU policy discussions on sustainability, economic resilience, and regional development.
