Salt producers mull quality improvements for export
Salt producers mull quality improvements for export
Lao salt producers are working to improve the quality of their products for export after already ensuring sufficient domestic supply.
To expand to markets in Asean and the region, Lao salt producers need to improve the quality of their products to a standard level, said one salt producer in Vientiane, Ms Bounthavy Chounlamany.
Ms Bounthavy told Vientiane Times recently that despite the fact that Laos integrated with the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end last year most of the salt producing entrepreneurs in the country are not ready for co mpetition.
However, Ms Bounthavy was sure that the 100 percent natural salt from the ground in Laos offers good opportunities for export, offering a different option from the sea salt produced in other countries.
Asean countries and some countries in East Asia have already expressed interest in salt products from Laos but Lao producers need to improve their quality, especially in terms of their salt grain and also their packaging, she said.
Laos currently has seven salt manufactures that are able to supply sufficient stocks for domestic consumers and still produce a surplus for entering foreign markets.
Some salt companies have exported their products to Taiwan, Japan and the Republic of Korea for market surveys and received good feedback, Ms Bounthavy said.
The group will continue enco uraging its manufacturers to produce for export and trade with nearby countries, especially those manufacturers located close to transport hubs, in order to reduce transport costs.
Currently, most producers in Laos are focusing on quality improvements rather than increasing quantities, she said.
Increasing quality will enable salt producers to charge a premium for their product, ensure safety and attract more interest from consumers.
The salt producers' group will also focus on product development, in particular their packaging and design, in order to catch the eye of consumers.
Ms Bounthavy said that producers have long been seeking to increase the value of their products and their quality control but the standards required for export are not easy to meet.
Higher product standards are the main prerequisite to being able to export goods to foreign markets and gain international acceptance.
One issue Laos does not face is lack of supply, as there is plenty of salt available for processing, which can satisfy the domestic market and leave plenty available for export.
