# North American Salt Prices: Why Freight Can Cost More Than the Mineral
Sodium chloride may be abundant, but buying it at the right price is not always straightforward. In North America, the cost of salt depends heavily on its grade, production method and delivery route. A buyer sourcing bulk rock salt from a Gulf Coast mine faces a very different cost structure from a municipality securing de-icing supplies for winter or a food processor purchasing purified vacuum pan salt.
Nexchem Intelligence puts Q3 2026 bulk rock salt at **USD 47 per metric tonne FOB Gulf Coast mine**, up from USD 45/MT in Q3 2025. Delivered Great Lakes de-icing salt averaged **USD 82/MT**, compared with USD 78/MT a year earlier. Vacuum pan food-grade salt stood at approximately **USD 186/MT FOB producer**. These are indicative figures, not regulated price assessments or contract-settlement benchmarks.
The [North American sodium chloride pricing brief](https://www.nexchemintelligenc....e.com/price-trends/s provides a useful comparison across grades and delivery bases.
## Freight changes the delivered cost equation
