Low supplies of road salt lead to higher prices in U.S.

As the weather turns cold, municipalities and suppliers across the nation are facing a one-two punch of road-salt shortages and higher prices.

The shortages came in the wake of last winter, when much of the U.S. experienced record-setting low temperatures that drove up demand for the ice-melting chemical.

"Last winter significantly depleted the road-salt supply even among the very largest suppliers and mines," said James Brooks, City Solutions director for the National League of Cities. "So right now you see several factors colliding — a weak inventory, larger individual orders and price changes — because demand is up."

While Minnesota experienced just a 4% increase in salt prices thanks to contracts obtained early in the spring, other states have not been as lucky. Indiana's counties are paying about $72 to $106 a ton for their salt — an average of 57% more than they did last year. Likewise, Michigan's transportation department has seen a 46% increase from last year to an average price of about $65 a ton.

"Based on last year's usage, ... prices are up considerably," said Jeff Cranson, MDOT's communications director. "It's simple supply and demand."

But with municipalities anticipating another season of extreme weather, no one's letting higher prices curb efforts to keep roads safe.

"Forecasts are calling for another severe winter, and we're not cutting back," Cranson said. "We're going to do what we have to do to salt the roads and keep them clear, because safety's going to be a top priority."

With cities and counties basing their salt-buying decisions on three- or five-year usage averages, expectations set by last winter have increased the average amount purchased.

"Cities and counties did experience a much faster burn-through of their salt supplies last year, and they learned from that, from what I have seen," Brooks said. "Jurisdictions have made larger orders for this winter in anticipation that they will need the inventory."

This rush to restore depleted supplies has sent prices even higher, as salt mines struggle to meet demand.

"We and our customers started the season with essentially zero inventory because of high usage last year," said Tara Hart, spokeswoman for North American Salt Co. "We're working diligently and safely to provide our customers with the salt they require."

While there are alternative ways to treat frozen roads, like using beet juice and magnesium chloride, road salt — sodium chloride — is generally favored.

"It's the primary chemical we use to deal with ice, because it's the most effective," said Kevin Gutknect, director of communications for the Minnesota State Department of Transportation. "There are others we can use, but the best thing is road salt."

Despite recent unseasonably cold weather, Mike Halpert, director of the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, warns against jumping to conclusions about the overall severity of the season.

"Last winter was very extreme, with really unusual cold," Halpert said. "We would never expect to see an extreme like that back to back."