en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 7, mining research platform Crux Investor reported that in early 2026, Ontario, Canada, again faced a road salt supply shortage, with wholesale prices rising from approximately C$65–70 per tonne to nearly C$190 per tonne. An early winter, frequent snowfall and freezing rain, coupled with depleted inventories from the previous snow season, made it difficult for local road salt supply to keep pace with demand.
The Ontario Landscape Industries Association stated in January that although some local salt mines were operating at full capacity, supply still could not meet demand. Municipal and regional road authorities were given priority for deliveries, resulting in reduced salt allocations for private snow removal contractors. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine in Ontario continued operating around the clock, supplying both the Canadian and northern U.S. markets, while a shortened shipping window caused by lake ice further increased logistical pressure.
Compass Minerals' fiscal 2026 third-quarter results, disclosed on August 5, showed that for the three months ended June 30, the company's salt segment revenue increased 5% year-over-year to $173.9 million. Highway deicing salt average selling prices rose 8% to $83.74 per short ton, consumer and industrial salt prices rose 6% to $204.09 per short ton, and the overall average selling price for salt products increased 9% year-over-year.
During the price increase period, total salt product sales volumes declined 4% year-over-year, with highway deicing salt volumes down 6% and consumer and industrial salt volumes up 3%. Due to higher unit production and distribution costs, salt segment operating profit fell 25% to $21.2 million, while adjusted EBITDA declined 15% to $38.9 million.
Compass Minerals has revised its fiscal 2026 salt product sales volume guidance to 10.5–10.8 million short tons, with revenue guidance of $1.053–1.090 billion. The company also stated that in the 2026–2027 highway deicing salt bidding season, bid demand and pricing in its core U.S. markets both increased compared to the prior year.
Regarding new capacity, Atlas Salt is advancing the Atlantic Salt project in Canada, with planned steady-state production of 4 million tonnes of road salt annually. On July 23, Export Development Canada issued a non-binding letter of intent to explore providing up to C$150 million in long-term debt financing for the project; Atlas Salt plans to raise approximately C$350–400 million in total senior secured debt, with the financing still subject to due diligence, credit approval, and formal agreement negotiations.
