280,000 tonnes in three weeks: Bangladesh rushes to buy Moroccan fertilizers

Dhaka continues to replenish its stocks from Morocco. Meeting this Wednesday, September 2, the Bangladesh Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) gave the green light to two new fertilizer imports from OCP Nutricrops, according to the public agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

The first order covers 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP). The agreed price is 894 dollars per tonne, for a total bill of 35.76 million dollars.

Bangladesh will also purchase 30,000 tonnes of triple superphosphate (TSP) from the Moroccan group, at a price of 669.33 dollars per tonne. This second operation represents slightly more than 20 million dollars.

In total, the newly approved 70,000 tonnes cost approximately 55.8 million dollars. The purchases are being made by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) under the government-to-government agreement concluded with OCP Nutricrops.

On Bladi.net : article 123389

This new order comes just a few days after Bangladesh approved 210,000 tonnes of Moroccan fertilizers in less than two weeks.

280,000 tonnes in just three weeks

The pace of orders is becoming particularly intense. On August 12, Dhaka had already authorized the purchase from Morocco of 40,000 tonnes of DAP and 30,000 tonnes of TSP, totaling 70,000 tonnes.

Twelve days later, on August 24, the Bangladeshi government had approved four more lots from OCP: 80,000 tonnes of DAP and 60,000 tonnes of TSP. That single meeting therefore added 140,000 tonnes to Moroccan orders.

With the 70,000 tonnes decided on September 2, the total now reaches 280,000 tonnes in 21 days: 160,000 tonnes of DAP and 120,000 tonnes of TSP. Based on the prices approved during these three meetings, their cumulative value is approaching 224 million dollars.

Bangladesh was already an important customer for Moroccan fertilizers, but the succession of decisions taken since mid-August reflects a sharp acceleration in its supplies from OCP.

This rush is explained in particular by the country’s agricultural needs. According to The Daily Star, Bangladesh imports more than 85% of the fertilizers it consumes and is currently seeking to secure the stocks needed for the Aman and Boro agricultural seasons, which together account for more than 90% of national rice production.

The country consumes approximately 6.6 million tonnes of fertilizer per year. In the last two weeks of August alone, the authorities authorized the import of around 480,000 tonnes from several international suppliers.

On Bladi.net : article 123374

In this context, Morocco is taking a particularly important position in the phosphate fertilizer segment. The new orders come as Moroccan phosphate reserves and capacities become strategic for several major markets, notably the United States.