Dhaka: The government is poised to secure a substantial amount of fertilizer to ensure a steady supply within the country, following the approval of five major import proposals by the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase. These proposals involve the procurement of approximately 1.70 lakh metric tons of urea and TSP fertilizer from both international and domestic suppliers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the decisions were made during the 44th meeting of the government purchase committee at Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The aim is to maintain agricultural productivity, stabilize domestic supply chains, and avert potential fertilizer shortages during critical cultivation periods.
The proposals, submitted by the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), focus on importing and distributing fertilizer across the country. Under the approved recommendations, Bangladesh will import a total of 110,000 metric tons of granular urea fertilizer in three distinct shipments.
The first shipment will see the purchase of 40,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, at a cost of Taka 195.43 crore, with the per-metric-ton price set at US$ 399.17. Fertiglobe has been a recurring supplier for Bangladesh, and officials noted that the pricing aligns with current international market trends.
A second shipment of 40,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer will be acquired from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia, a leading global urea exporter. This lot will cost the government around Taka 190.94 crore, with a per-ton rate of US$ 390. SABIC is considered a reliable long-term supplier due to its stable supply capacity.
Additionally, the government will procure 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO), a local entity. The contract price for this lot is approximately Taka 139.69 crore, with a per-ton price of US$ 379.50. This local supply is expected to facilitate quicker distribution to agricultural regions.
Furthermore, the committee recommended the approval for importing 60,000 metric tons of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer through a government-to-government arrangement with OCP NUTRICROPS of Morocco, the world’s largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer. The BADC will import two separate lots of 30,000 metric tons each, with each lot costing around Taka 199.51 crore and a per-ton rate of US$ 542.
Government officials emphasized that these procurements are vital for maintaining Bangladesh’s food security and supporting farmers during peak planting cycles.