TOLEDO, Ohio (AP): An Indiana company that supplies road salt to Ohio is importing shipments from the northern Africa nation of Morocco because of the short supply and high prices.

Midwest Salt plans to bring in 171,000 tons through the port of Toledo.

The Ohio Department of Transportation's first shipment from Midwest arrived earlier this month. An official with Toledo's port authority tell The Blade newspaper that at least four more ships have been booked.

A spokesman with the state's highway department says the state will provide a trucking service to get the salt to stockpiles as needed.

Communities buying the salt through the state will only need to pay for the salt itself.

Salt demand is outpacing supply around the nation, and some shipments have already been delayed this year.