Is There a Rock Salt Shortage This Year?

It’s June, the temperatures are starting to warm up, and for most of us, winter is already in the rearview mirror. However, if you’re in charge of winter maintenance for a city, county, or commercial property, you likely haven’t forgotten how brutal the 2024–2025 season was for some areas, especially in the southern states that are not used to receiving so much snow.  

Between constantly low temperatures, relentless cold weather events, and a thin supply chain, our friends in the southern states struggled to get their hands on rock salt this past winter. In some areas it wasn’t just hard — it was nearly impossible.

So, what exactly caused the rock salt shortage this past season? And more importantly, what should you do now to prepare for winter 2025–2026? Here’s what our team at Ninja De-Icer wants you to know.

What Happened During the 2024–2025 Winter?

This wasn’t your average winter. The 2024–2025 winter season brought an unrelenting mix of small snowfall events and larger storms that swept through many states. And while those big storms might grab headlines (like snow in Texas and Georgia), those smaller, frequent snowfalls quietly create the biggest drain on the salt supply.

Why? Because crews still need to apply salt every single time, no matter if there is one inch or six inches of snow, the trucks have to roll. That means more demand on salt usage. 

Now add that many snowfalls happened during a long stretch of constantly low temperatures, which prevented natural melting between storms. The result? Salting became a daily routine for many communities, and local government customers went through their reserves faster than ever.

While the northern states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois had a mild winter this past season, the southern states like Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky did. In fact they received more snow last winter than they normally do in five winter seasons combined.  

How does this affect everyone? Well, since the southern states quickly depleted their salt reserves for the season, vendors started taking salt from Northern states reserves and trucking them to the south. So even though the northern states didn’t get that much snow this year, their salt supply was also significantly depleted this past winter.  

It was a difficult winter, not just weather-wise, but operationally, especially for anyone depending on large salt purchases. For more on this topic, check out our guide to bulk rock salt pricing.

A Supply Chain Pushed to Its Limits

The Midwest plays a huge role in the U.S. salt ecosystem, with many key salt mines and production facilities located throughout the region. These sites are essential for keeping roads safe from the Dakotas down through Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and beyond.

However, this past winter exposed some major cracks in the system:

• Production couldn’t keep pace with the demand.
  
• Storms hit multiple states at once, spreading resources thin.
  
• Logistical delays from trucking companies created backlogs.
  
• Buyers placing late-season orders were often left empty-handed.
  

And because the demand didn’t ease up — especially during extended cold spells — the shortage hit earlier and lasted longer than anyone expected.

The scarcity of rock salt led to significant price hikes. For instance, in Perrysburg, Ohio, local businesses reported a 30–40 percent increase in salt prices compared to previous years.

Factors Driving the Salt Shortage

Let’s zoom out. What created this perfect storm of shortages?

Here are the main drivers:

• Historic demand: Snowfall totals weren’t record-breaking, but the frequency of storms created non-stop demand.
  
• Constantly low temperatures: Minimal melting between events meant more road salt had to be reapplied.
  
• Logistical strain: Getting salt from ports to buyers became harder due to trucking delays and capacity limits.
  
• Supply prioritization: Large salt contract holders got priority, leaving others, especially smaller buyers, scrambling.
  
• Short lead times: Many buyers waited too long to place orders, and by the time they did, the supply was already depleted.
  

Even other states that usually rely on regional suppliers were affected. When big cities buy up all available stock, it leaves smaller communities and commercial snow contractors in the cold, literally and figuratively.

Beat the Salt Shortage Before It Starts

Being proactive is key; don’t let another winter catch you off guard. Talk to our team today about your 2025–2026 salt needs and lock in your supply early.

Get a Quote

What This Means for 2025–2026 Buyers

If last winter taught us anything, it’s that waiting to purchase salt until the storm is hitting your area is a gamble you likely can’t afford. Whether you’re in charge of a city, township, commercial property, or snow removal business, you need to plan ahead.

Here’s why:

• Lead times are longer. Major suppliers are already planning allocations.
  
• Demand will spike again. Even with average snowfall, everyone’s buying more after what happened last season.
  
• Small buyers get squeezed out. Without early orders, you'll be last in line.
  
• Road salt shortages can derail operations quickly, and angry calls from residents or property managers don’t help.
  
• Salt prices may increase the longer you wait. Shortages may cause the salt prices to increase by 10-30 percent next winter season.
  

In short: Don't be reactive. Be prepared. Salt mines can only produce so much salt each day, extra supply doesn’t magically appear when winter storms hit. Instead, it’s about finding the right team that can help you prepare and give you peace of mind. 

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Royal Blue Halite Rock Salt 50 Lbs Bag

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How to Be Prepared for the Ice Melt Shortage

There are many ways to prepare for a salt shortage; it all boils down to planning. Below, you’ll find ways to ensure that your winter will be smooth and stress free when it comes to purchasing your deicing products.

1. Buy Earlier

To avoid being in a crisis this winter, buy your salt early in the season. Buying early comes with many advantages, such as more choices, lower prices, and cheaper trucking rates given the orders are not expedited. 

2. Buy Salt in Bulk

Buying in bulk may seem like the equivalent of panic buying, but it is quite different. To ensure a safe and affable winter, purchasing large quantities of salt and salt products will lead to a sense of serenity. Plus, most deicing vendors give discounted pricing to customers who purchase larger quantities. So the more you buy, the more you save.

3. Conserve the Salt That You Have

It is imperative to conserve your salt; this can be done in many ways, but the most obvious is to avoid using more than is necessary. Another way to maximize salt is by treating it with additives, increasing the effectiveness which leads to using less salt.

4. Prepare a Snow Management Plan

Benjamin Franklin said it best: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Working out a plan before winter knocks on the door is essential. There are many ways to avoid a dangerous winter season. It’s always better to expect the unexpected rather than suffer the consequences of poor planning. 

5. Store Your Salt Correctly

Storing bulk salt is an integral part of managing your supply properly. Ideally, you'll store it in a location that doesn't expose your salt supply to moisture, as this can cause damage to the product making it less effective and harder to spread.

How to Manage the Salt Shortage If It Happens

To best prepare for the salt shortage, you should assume it will happen. You’ll need to shift business practices and adjust salt usage. Even if you have stockpiled salt throughout the year, we still recommend taking these measures. Preparedness is key to making the snow removal process smooth.

• Reduce your salt usage: Look into treated deicing products that are more effective and require less product.  
  
• Increase other snow and ice management techniques: I know it is easier to apply salt for smaller snowfalls without plowing first, but removing the snow first before applying salt will reduce the amount of salt needed.  
  
• Mix your salt supply with sand to make it go further: This allows you to use the salt you have for longer. This can be especially useful in areas where the temperatures are below freezing when salt is not that effective alone.
  
• Pre-treat the area you're servicing with liquid deicing materials: Liquid deicers are a great way to prevent the snow and ice bonds from forming on the surface. This will decrease the amount of salt needed for a job.
  
• Ensure your equipment is properly calibrated to avoid over-salting: Educate your staff on proper salt application and make sure to read more about salt spreader calibration.
  
• Discuss the salt shortage with your customers: This will help you identify priority areas that need your attention. Sidewalks and other high-traffic areas must be safe for your customers.
  
• Update your contracts: Make sure to include clauses within your contract that protect you if the salt prices increase.
  

Plan Ahead: Secure Your Salt Supply Early with Ninja De-Icer

You’ve got a window — and it’s now. The best time to lock in your order for winter 2025–2026 is late summer, before the leaves change color.

Mother Nature has shown us in the last few years that any state is subject to winter weather, even Texas.  If states that don’t normally get winter weather continue to see snow and ice in their areas, this will continue to impact everyone when it comes to salt supply shortages. The rock salt shortage of 2024–2025 wasn’t a fluke. It was a flashing warning light for anyone responsible for winter maintenance. Buyers who waited too long or tried to order for each snow event, quickly found themselves without options. Don’t find yourself in this position again this year!

At Ninja De-Icer, we’re already looking ahead — and we’re inviting you to do the same. We’re here to help take the stress out of the salt game so you can keep your focus elsewhere. Browse our catalog and contact our team to get a quote. Let’s ensure your operations are ready for whatever the upcoming winter throws your way.