What do Torrevieja, cured ham and snowy roads have in common? 500,000 tonnes of salt

This year, the saltworks of Torrevieja expect to produce around 500,000 tonnes of salt. For the city, this is more than an industrial statistic: Torrevieja remains Spain's leading salt-producing centre, and its salt is used for far more than cooking.

Half a million tonnes is not a historical record. Average annual production is around 650,000 tonnes, while in some years output has approached 800,000 tonnes. The final figure depends heavily on the weather: sunshine and wind accelerate evaporation, while heavy rain can significantly affect the season's result.

Where does all that salt go?

Some of it naturally goes to the food industry — for curing and preserving food, as well as for bread, pasta, cured meats and other products. But food is only one of its many uses.

Salt from Torrevieja is also used:

• for winter road maintenance and de-icing;

• in water-treatment systems;

• in the chemical industry, including as a raw material for chlorine production;

• in a variety of industrial processes;

• to produce brines and specialised salt products;

• for municipal and public-service uses.

Salt has a surprisingly long industrial career. Sodium chloride is an inexpensive and highly versatile chemical raw material, so its applications go far beyond the kitchen salt shaker.

The salt that travels to places where winter exists

In 2025, more than 250,000 tonnes of salt were scheduled to be shipped from Torrevieja to Europe, mainly for road de-icing. During periods of high demand, thousands of tonnes can move through the port.

The geography is rather amusing: the salt is produced under the sun of Torrevieja and then travels thousands of kilometres to fight snow and ice.

Europe is not the only destination. Overseas markets also include Canada and the United States.

Why Torrevieja?

The production system here is unusual. La Mata lagoon is used to concentrate the water, while crystallisation and salt harvesting take place in Torrevieja lagoon. In addition, the operation receives brine from the salt deposit at Pinoso through a dedicated pipeline.

So today's salt industry in Torrevieja is not simply a matter of “sea, sunshine and white salt”, but a complex natural and industrial system.

Spain is a major salt-producing country too

Salt is produced in many parts of Spain. Major production areas include Andalusia — particularly Cádiz, Huelva and Almería — as well as other coastal and inland regions.

Torrevieja nevertheless stands out because of the scale of its saltworks. They are regarded as the largest in Spain, and salt production has been one of the activities that shaped the development of the city.

Systematic exploitation of Torrevieja lagoon began in 1766. The 500,000 tonnes expected today are therefore the result of more than 250 years of development of the same local industry.

So when we look at the huge white salt mountains beside the pink lagoon, we are not simply looking at a spectacular landscape.

This year, Torrevieja expects to produce around 500,000 tonnes of industrial raw material — for food, chemicals, water treatment and, in enormous quantities, winter roads far beyond Spain.