Nation's fertiliser imports set to grow

Nation's fertiliser imports set to grow

Viet Nam is expected to import 11 million tonnes of fertiliser for agricultural production next year, a major increase from this year's total of 10.3 million.

The figures were made known by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Demand for urea fertiliser stood at 2.2 million tonnes, SA fertiliser at 900,000 tonnes, NPK at 4 million tonnes and potassium diammonium phosphate (DAP) at 1.8 million tonnes.

While domestic producers can satisfy demand for some fertilisers, they are forced to import others, the ministry said.

Viet Nam imported 3.81 million tonnes of fertiliser in the January-October period, a rise of 17 per cent over last year.

Last month alone, the Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated the country's fertiliser imports totaled 450,000 tonnes, a 2 per cent surge over the previous month but a 6 per cent decrease year-on-year.

Urea fertiliser imports saw the highest increase, rising 98 per cent against the same period last year to reach 138,000 tonnes.

Dinh Vu Fertiliser Plant in the northern city of Hai Phong has a yearly output of 330,000 tonnes, meeting 30 per cent of domestic demand for DAP.

The country has to spend hundreds of millions of US dollars to import over 800,000 tonnes of DAP every year.

The plant's owners expect to increase its annual capacity to 660,000 tonnes.

The Viet Nam National Chemicals Group (VINACHEM) will invest in building a plant with a similar capacity in northern Lao Cai Province's Tang Loong Industrial Park. The plant is expected to become operational in 2015.

The company has also striven to implement rock salt exploitation projects in Laos to produce 320,000 tonnes of kali fertiliser each year.

In 2015, local enterprises will be able to meet 100 per cent of demand for urea, phosphate and NPK fertiliser, 70-80 per cent of demand for DAP and 30 per cent for SA.

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