INFORMATIVE | ORIENT. The Guvlyduz enterprise, Turkmenistan's oldest and largest salt production facility, is located on the Caspian Sea coast in the village of Guvlymayak. The 2025 results are impressive: production exceeded 97,000 tons, representing 102.2% of the planned output.

These figures represent more than just statistics, but a unique natural gift, virtually unparalleled in the world.

The Planet's Salt Pantry

The Guvly deposit is considered one of the largest on the planet. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the salt here is self-precipitating. This means that nature itself "produces" the product: seawater, exposed to the sun and wind, evaporates in natural estuaries, leaving purest crystals on the surface.

Interesting fact: Salt from Guvlymayak does not require extensive chemical purification. Thanks to its natural origin, it retains a rich spectrum of microelements, making it ideal not only for food but also for the chemical industry.

Year in figures:

97,053 tons – total salt mined in 2025. 86,270 tons – coarse salt production (the basis for industrial use). 23,000 tons – packaged table salt, which is shipped to stores across the country.

Ecology and Traditions

Entering 2026, the Year of the Winged Steeds, salt producers in the Balkan region are stepping up their production. It's important to note that extraction in Guvlymayak is conducted in accordance with the environmental standards of the Caspian region. This is a sustainable production, where people simply harvest what the sea generously provides.

Not Just for the Kitchen: The Hidden Talents of "White Gold"

Many are accustomed to seeing Guvlyduz salt in blue-and-white or red-and-white packages on supermarket shelves, but its uses are much broader. The unique chemical composition and purity of Caspian salt make it indispensable in a wide variety of industries:

Textile industry: Salt is a crucial component in the dyeing process. It helps pigments "fix" in the cotton fibers, making the colors vibrant and long-lasting. Without high-quality salt solutions, Turkmenistan's export knitwear would not be so durable.

Medicine and health: Thanks to natural iodization (Turkmenistan has a law requiring mandatory iodization of table salt), Guvlyduz products are a key tool for preventing iodine deficiency diseases in the region. Furthermore, Caspian salt is widely used in balneotherapy at the Avaza resort.

Energy and Oil: In the oil and gas sector of the Balkan region, industrial salt is used to prepare drilling fluids. It helps strengthen wellbore walls and prevent collapses during oil extraction.

Did you know? Salt production in Guvlymayak is a process that requires virtually no electricity to "create" the product. The main "worker" here is the scorching Balkan sun. It evaporates water from the lagoons, turning the sea into a sparkling sheet of ice, which is then collected by specialized salt harvesters.