According to the latest data released by the National Fertilizer Despach Development Centre, total nutrient offtake during April, 2018 was about 260 thousand tonnes, which was 21.2 per cent higher than April, 2017.

Furthermore, Nitrogen Offtake increased by 38.2 per cent over April 2017, while phosphate and potash offtake decreased by 20.9 and 37.8 per cent respectively. In product terms, urea offtake was 375 thousand tonnes; which was 50.3 per cent higher when compared with same timeframe of last year. Total DAP offtake was 69 thousand tonnes witnessing a decrease of 28.2 per cent over April, 2017.

The notice also mentioned that total production during the month of April reached to 557 thousand tonnes, with total imports for fertilizer clocking in at 55 thousand tonnes.

Production of all fertilizer products during April 2018 was about 557 thousand tonnes. Urea production was 433 thousand tonnes, which is 77.9 per cent of total production. The DAP production was 31 thousand tonnes. Production of other products was CAN 40 thousand tonnes, Nitrophos 42 thousand tonnes, SSP 4 thousand tonnes and NPKs 6 thousand tonnes. Imported supplies during April, 2018 were 55 thousand product tonnes including 45 thousand tonnes of DAP, 4 thousand tonnes of SOP and 2 thousand tonnes of MOP, AS and SSP each.

In the local market, prices witnessed a relative moment with Prices of all fertilizers except urea (sona) and CAN increased during month under review.

Prices of urea (sona) and CAN decreased by 0.4 and 1.6 per cent respectively while price of urea (other), DAP, NP, SSP (G), SOP and NPK increased by 0.4, 3.6, 5.5, 1.1, 1.0 and 1.4 per cent respectively.