b'36American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(IMPACT continued fromacross the U.S., a more long-page 34) term challenge exists for rock andforeignsources.Somesalt importers. The US imports suppliershavelimitedsalessaltfromMexico,Canada, toexistingcustomersandChile, the Bahamas, and Egypt. those with existing contracts,According to the U.S. import posingachallengetoinde- data,thenationimportedsalt pendent removal companies. worth$687.69millionand To provide some perspec- 15.54milliontonsin2023-tive regarding the magnitude24. There are more than 2700 oftheproblem,Americanactive salt importers in the US Rock, a major producer of rockbuyingsaltfrommorethan salt, reported that in 2024, the2400 suppliers worldwide.company shipped 1.8 millionTheproposedTrump tons of salt for the entirety ofadministration tariffs of 25% the winter season; this winterforimportsfromMexico throughJanuary2025aloneandCanadacouldsignifi-thecompanyhasalreadycantlyincreasethecostof shipped over 2.1 million tonssalt. These increases come at of salt. atimewhentheindustryis CompanieslikeAmeri- unabletoabsorbadditional Discharge operations at the Port of Antwerp can Rock Salt are taking stepscosts. According to salt pro-to meet the demand. In addi- ducers, operating costs have Cargo keeps coming fortion to increasing its produc- been increasing for more than tion of rock salt by 25%, thea year due to higher transpor-Antwerps INEOS Project One company said it was openingtation and labor costs.reservestockpiles,purchas- The US Geological Survey ing new underground equip- reports that the average cost of Heavy lift vessel is key to the move. ment to mine additional salt,rock salt increased by 3.5 per-and constructing more accesscent in 2024. Import costs from By Luke King, AJOT points to its underground con- keysupplierslikeCanada verter and bin system to helpand Chile were already rising A major development in the Antwerp regionbyproducingethyleneandpropylenewithtransportmoresalttopro- due to logistical bottlenecks. is the INEOS Project ONE, which is locatedmuch lower CO2 emissions compared to tra- cessing equipment. Marginsforsaltproducers within the industrial zone of the Port of Ant- ditional methods. arelowincomparisontoa werp and represents one of the largest invest- InJanuary,projectfreightforwardert ariffsl ikely toi mpaCt potential25%tariff.Many ments in Europes chemical sector for decades.deugroannouncedthatithaddeliveredtenr oCks altp riCinG saltproducershavesaidthey It entails the construction of an advancedstoragebulletsandfurtherequipmentfromWhile the current rock saltwould pass the additional tariff ethane cracker and propane dehydrogenationChina to the Port of Antwerp. The cargo units,shortageisexpectedtocomecosts on to clients, ultimately (PDH) unit, which is expected to bring sub- someweighingupto738metrictons,weretoanendassoonaswinter(IMPACT continued on stantial economic and environmental benefits(CARGOcontinued on page 38) weather becomes less prevalentpage 38)'