천일염 가격 안정화 방안에 관한 연구

Abstract

Sun salt became the regular target of government policies after salt as a food in 2008 and salt production was recognized as fisheries. It has been ten years since sun salt was switched to food. However, the industrial competitiveness of Korean sun salt is in a decline with a decrease in table salt consumption, inundation of imported salt, and continuation of perpetual crude salt-oriented production structure. Producers’ grievances are increasing as sun salt prices are at the lowest level. On the other hand, consumers’ preference for fresh and safe food along with their disclosure requests for production and distribution process are on the rise. Though such consumer tendencies are applied to Sun salt, since domestic sun salt has yet to be recognized for its functionality and commercial value, no price formation has occurred. This research investigated the problems of price decline in sun salt by analyzing the structure of supply and demand of the salt and its countermeasures. Due to the lack of domestic data on the market size and the supply and demand of sun salt, the problem was analyzed through estimation with data from related statistics. As a result, the current domestic sun salt market showed that there was an excess supply due to imports, while domestic supply alone can fully meet the market demand. Thus, for price stabilization of sun salt, the control of sun salt supply is of utmost importance. To accomplish this, restructuring saltern and improving the processing industry for differentiation from imported salts were found to be the most necessary.