Islamabad October 18 2024: Urea offtake was 365 thousand tonnes which decreased by 35.3 per cent while DAP offtake was 134 thousand tonnes which increased by 24.2 per cent over September 2023, according to data released by National Fertilizer Development Centre.
Total nutrient offtake during September 2024 was 289 thousand tonnes, which decreased by 25.3 per cent over September 2023. Nitrogen offtake decreased by 33.4 per cent, while phosphate and potash offtake increased by 9.4 and 28 per cent, respectively.
Total domestic fertilizer production during September 2024 was 815 thousand tonnes. Urea and DAP production was 579 and 74 thousand tonnes, respectively. Production of other products i.e., CAN, NP, NPKs, SSP and SOP was 72, 71, 9.4, 6.8 and 2.2 thousand tonnes, respectively. Total imported supplies were 211 thousand tonnes comprising of DAP only.
Price of urea (other), urea(sona) and CAN decreased by 2.3, 2.1 and 1.6 per cent, respectively. Prices of phosphate fertilizer products i.e., SSP, NP and DAP increased by 1.2, 0.7 and 0.2 per cent, respectively. The average price of urea (sona), urea (other) and DAP was Rs. 4,644, Rs. 4,497 and Rs. 11,820 per 50 kg bag, respectively.
Cumulative urea offtake from April to September was 2,746 thousand tonnes against projected demand of 3,442 thousand tonnes i.e., 21 per cent less. Decline in offtake may be attributed to economic recession due to low wheat prices and significant reduction in cotton acreage in Punjab (20 %) and Sindh (12 %).
Total availability of urea was 3,391 thousand tonnes with domestic production of 3,217 thousand tonnes and 174 thousand tonnes of carryover stock. Urea offtake during Kharif 2024 was 2,746 thousand tonnes with closing balance 622 thousand tonnes.
Availability of DAP during Kharif 2024 was 1,022 thousand tonnes, comprising 78 thousand tonnes opening stock, 503 thousand tonnes imported supplies and 441 thousand tonnes domestic production. DAP demand was 642 thousand tonnes. A handsome stock of 384 thousand tonnes will ensure smooth supplies during 1st half of Rabi 2024-25.
Rabi 2024-25 started with 622 thousand tonnes urea. Total availability is estimated at 4,077 thousand tonnes with domestic production of 3,455 thousand tonnes. Urea demand during Rabi 2024-25 is projected around 3,434 thousand tonnes (based on last three year average)
Similarly, availability of DAP during Rabi 2024-25 is expected to be around 837 thousand tonnes, comprising 384 thousand tonnes of opening stock, 393 thousand tonnes of domestic production and 60 thousand tonnes of imported supplies. DAP demand is estimated around 940 thousand tonnes (based on last five-year average).
