Soda ash and salt production in Botswana recorded year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter of 2024. Soda ash output increased by 3.4%, rising by 2,702 tonnes to reach 82,482 tonnes. Salt production saw a more substantial rise of 20.0%, growing by 13,647 tonnes to total 81,833 tonnes.
Despite the annual increase, both commodities experienced quarter-on-quarter declines. Soda ash production fell by 3.5% (2,989 tonnes), while salt output dropped by 19.1% (19,303 tonnes) compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Production of both salt and soda ash in Botswana is carried out by the partly state-owned Botswana Ash, commonly known as Botash. The company operates one of the few large natural soda ash reserves globally, with a nameplate production capacity of 300,000 tonnes of soda ash and approximately 650,000 tonnes of salt annually.
Soda ash from the Sua Pan plays a crucial role in glass manufacturing for buildings, vehicle windscreens, and containers used for beverages, food, and pharmaceuticals. Similarly, salt from Sua Pan is vital for water reticulation via PVC piping, water treatment through chlorine production, and as a carrier of iodine in food-grade micronutrients.
