Pocket shortages of urea expected during Feb'21 due to closure of LNG based plants: NFDC

January 25, 2021 (MLN): The overall urea offtake during the month of December 2020 amounted to 881 thousand tonnes, which is lower by 34.5 percent as compared to the same month of last year.

According to the monthly data released by National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC), total urea availability during the month was about 1167 thousand tonnes, which included an opening balance of 668 thousand tonnes and domestic production of 499 thousand tonnes. Urea offtake during December 2020 was 881 thousand tonnes, thus leaving a balance of 299 thousand tonnes for next month.

Urea offtake decreased by 33, 36, 25 and 58 percent in Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan respectively as compared to December 2019.

Rabi 2020-21 started with an opening balance of 473 thousand tonnes of urea. Domestic production during Rabi 2020-21 is estimated around 2958 thousand tonnes. Urea offtake during current Rabi 2020-21 will be about 3244 thousand tonnes, against the total availability of 3431 thousand tonnes, leaving a closing balance of 228 thousand tonnes for next season. Pocket shortages of urea may be observed during February 2021 as a result of closure of LNG based plants.

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