After three very difficult years, especially due to storms, record production in the only sea salt plant in Catalonia, in the Ebro delta. Misfortune has turned into a confluence of favorable factors. The weather, key in the crystallization of salt, will raise production to 120,000 tons, never seen before, if there is no disaster.
The record is close at hand but until the harvest ends on September 15 they will not breathe a sigh of relief at Infosa, the Catalan family business that operates the Trinitat salt flats, next to Punta de la Banya. The squall over the weekend is worrying, still with an uncertain prognosis.
The salt has crystallized optimally this summer thanks to the heat and the lack of rain. The best record dated from 2014, when it reached 110,000 tons. Among the key factors, the dynamics of the winds. In winter and spring the wind was stable almost every afternoon, which influences the quality of the brine. In addition to the winds, the strong heat and the persistent drought have contributed to closing the circle.
Another thing is clear at Infosa after three years of difficulties to be able to respond to the stable market demand for industrial salt. The family firm will take advantage of this extraordinary salty area to keep stock. “The problem we have is being able to serve all customers, even this year we have to limit sales. Working without stock is complicated”, highlights Manel Salvadó, manager of Infosa. The cleaning of swimming pool water, with the progressive replacement of chlorine by salt, and agri-food are two of the booming markets. Chemistry, pharmacy or road maintenance are in strong demand.
The quality and volume of the salt will increase Infosa’s annual turnover. Last year it reached 15 million euros, a record record driven by the increase in production costs. The profit margin dwindles. The fleur de sel campaign, its gourmet product, will remain at 15 tons, well below the average (25).
The sea salt produced in the Ebro delta will once again travel abroad. 65% of the production is sold in international markets, especially in Europe, with top clients such as France, but also in the United States and North Africa.
Infosa, with fifty workers, hopes to be able to forget with this record harvest the memory of recent disastrous years, such as 2020, that of the Gloria storm, when production fell to 50,000 tons, one of the worst in all of history.
