Govt clears 9.2 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertiliser imports by private firms

The government has approved the purchase of 9.2 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertiliser by 44 private importers to ensure adequate supplies for the Boro rice season, the country's principal crop.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) took the decision today.

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The approval comes amid concerns over fertiliser supplies, after farmers in several parts of the country recently protested over shortfalls during the ongoing rainfed Aman season, the second-largest rice crop. 

As per CCGP’s decision, 20 firms will supply 5 lakh tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP), sourced mainly from Morocco, Jordan and Russia, at $938 per tonne, costing $469 million.

The CCGP also approved 2.2 lakh tonnes of muriate of potash (MOP) and 2 lakh tonnes of triple superphosphate (TSP).

Fourteen importers will bring in MOP from Russia and Belarus at $398.97 per tonne, while 10 firms will supply TSP from Lebanon, Morocco, Bulgaria, Egypt and Tunisia at $756 per tonne. 

Bangladesh is projected to require 58.05 lakh tonnes of urea, DAP, MOP and TSP in the current fiscal year 2026-27, with urea accounting for 45 percent of the total estimated requirement.

Nearly 70 percent of the crop nutrients are projected to be used during the October-to-February period to support a good harvest of Boro rice, which accounts for 55 percent of annual rice production.

The country depends heavily on imported fertiliser owing to a shortage of gas to run local factories.

In addition, the CCGP approved the agriculture ministry’s plan to buy 35,000 tonnes of MOP under a state-to-state contract from Russia at $383.8 per tonne.

It also approved the plan to import 40,000 tonnes of DAP under a state-to-state arrangement from Morocco. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation will import MOP and DAP.

Also, the high-powered committee gave the go-ahead to buy 40,000 tonnes of granular urea from Saudi Arabia at $396.66 per tonne.