Fertilizer Imports Up more than 100 per cent in Jan-July

Vietnam is estimated to have spent US$1.105 billion importing 2.327 million tons of fertilizers in the first seven months of 2008, representing sharp on year rise of 118.9 per cent in value despite a slight rise of only 10.7 per cent in volume, latest report of the General Statistics Office (GSO) showed.

 

Of the total, the country imported 575,000 tons of urea fertilizer worth US$223 million, up 60.4 per cent on year in volume and 138.3 per cent in value.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said Vietnam needs around 430,000 tons of fertilizer for summer-autumn crop from Jun to Sept this year, including 170,000 tons for the north, 310,000 tons for the central and 200,000 tons for the south.

 

The ministry said with stockpile of 120,000 tons, and local production of 240,000 tons from July to Sept, the country will have to import at least 120,000 tons by September, or between 50,000 and 70,000 tons monthly, to meet domestic demand.

 

The MARD added that total demand for 2008-2009 winter-spring crop from late Sept 2008 to Mar 2009 will reach 870,000 tons, adding that the country will have to import 100,000 tons of fertilizer a month by the time. (GSO July Edition, Vietnam & World Economy July 28 p17)