Fertilizer industry against further urea imports
Staff Reporter
Friday, September 21, 2012 - Karachi—Fertilizer industry has strongly opposed further import of urea for upcoming Rabi season saying there is no fear of any shortage of the commodity as sufficient stocks will be available in the country.
Industry sources claimed that urea demand for this Rabi season will be easily fulfilled with domestic production and already planned import of some 0.3 million metric tons. During Rabi 2012-13, going to start from October 2012, some 2.93 million tons of urea stocks will be available for domestic consumption as against the demand of 2.8 million tons, which based on higher estimation, despite the fact that same decline is expected in upcoming months, they said and added that total availability during Rabi season includes opening inventory of 630,000 tons, local production of 2 million tons and an import of 0.3 million tons in Rabi 2012-13.
Our estimates always based on actual statistics as last year government officials were expecting a consumption of 3 million tons during Rabi, while our projection was 2.8-2.9 million and finally 2.755 million tons urea was consumed during Rabi 2011-12, they said.
Although, last year SNGPL-based urea plant produced some 0.2 million tons of urea during Rabi season, however current demand and supply scenario of urea is worked out on assumption of no gas supply to SNGPL-based plants in Rabi season 2012-13, industry sources said. The fertilizer availability situation would ease significantly in coming months and urea would be available in surplus if the government provides gas to fertilizer industry even on rotation basis, they added.
Industry sources claimed that urea demand for this Rabi season will be easily fulfilled with domestic production and already planned import of some 0.3 million metric tons. During Rabi 2012-13, going to start from October 2012, some 2.93 million tons of urea stocks will be available for domestic consumption as against the demand of 2.8 million tons, which based on higher estimation, despite the fact that same decline is expected in upcoming months, they said and added that total availability during Rabi season includes opening inventory of 630,000 tons, local production of 2 million tons and an import of 0.3 million tons in Rabi 2012-13.
Our estimates always based on actual statistics as last year government officials were expecting a consumption of 3 million tons during Rabi, while our projection was 2.8-2.9 million and finally 2.755 million tons urea was consumed during Rabi 2011-12, they said.
Although, last year SNGPL-based urea plant produced some 0.2 million tons of urea during Rabi season, however current demand and supply scenario of urea is worked out on assumption of no gas supply to SNGPL-based plants in Rabi season 2012-13, industry sources said. The fertilizer availability situation would ease significantly in coming months and urea would be available in surplus if the government provides gas to fertilizer industry even on rotation basis, they added.
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