Fahd Gauhar Islamabad
National Fertilizer Development Centre has released monthly production and offtake data of the fertilizer industry.
As per the provided statistics, during the month of November 2021, urea offtake posted a growth of 5% YoY to 561 thousand tons compared to 533 tons tons registered during the same month of last year.
As per the details, together Fauji Fertilizers (Producer of the Urea) and the Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim (Producer of the DAP and Urea) reported an increase in their offtake by 6% Year on Year basis while Engro Fertilizers registered growth of 3% Year on Year basis in its off take.
The fertilizer offtake were seen on higher side on a Month on Month basis as urea offtake rose by 9% on account of higher than usual demand in Rabi season.
On the other hands, DAP sales posted a decline of 41% Year on Year basis and 37% Month on Month Basis to stand at 217 thousand tons during the month of November 21 primarily because of massive exorbitant DAP prices. Similarly, during 11MCY21 DAP sales declined by a massive 11% YoY to 1,761 thousand tons.
Going forward, it is anticipated that impact of the rising prices on account of increasing input costs will restrict consumers’ ability to purchase which can potentially impact the yield of various crop.
Not to mention, despite being an agriculture country Pakistan has been a regular customer of wheat and sugar in international market which is alarming.
