Bangladesh to Receive 250,000 Tonnes of Fertiliser as Government Moves to Ease Supply Concerns

Bangladesh is set to receive seven cargo ships carrying a combined 250,000 tonnes of fertiliser this month, as authorities step up efforts to ensure adequate supplies during the peak farming season and address concerns over shortages reported in several districts.

According to sources within the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, the incoming shipments include 150,000 tonnes of muriate of potash (MOP), 60,000 tonnes of triple superphosphate (TSP), and 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP), all of which are critical for agricultural production across the country.

As part of the imports, Bangladesh is receiving 150,000 tonnes of MOP from Russia and Canada. Russia is supplying 70,000 tonnes in two shipments of 35,000 tonnes each, while Canada is providing 80,000 tonnes through two separate consignments of 40,000 tonnes each. Two of the four MOP shipments are expected to arrive this week, with the remaining vessels scheduled to reach Bangladeshi ports on September 13 and September 15.

BADC forecasts that demand for DAP fertiliser will reach 1.127 million tonnes during the peak fertiliser season running from September to February. To meet that requirement, around 680,000 tonnes of DAP are currently under import processing or being negotiated for delivery by January.

Demand for MOP during the same period is estimated at 672,000 tonnes, while approximately 680,000 tonnes are already under import processing or negotiation, suggesting that supply is expected to meet anticipated demand.

Meanwhile, the country’s demand for TSP is projected at 519,000 tonnes. At present, 360,000 tonnes are in the final stages of import processing or under negotiation through government-to-government (G2G) agreements aimed at securing stable supplies.

A senior BADC official involved in fertiliser imports said that Bangladesh is expected to receive 10 to 12 fertiliser vessels every month until January, carrying DAP, MOP and TSP to maintain sufficient stocks and support agricultural production nationwide.

The large-scale import drive comes amid reports of fertiliser shortages in several regions during the ongoing Aman cultivation season. In Kurigram, tensions reportedly escalated when farmers broke into a fertiliser dealer’s warehouse and took supplies amid concerns over availability.

Following the incident and other complaints regarding fertiliser distribution, the Ministry of Agriculture adopted a stricter stance and transferred several agriculture officials over allegations of negligence in fulfilling their responsibilities.

With the arrival of additional shipments and continued import efforts, authorities are aiming to stabilize fertiliser availability, support farmers during the peak cultivation period and safeguard agricultural productivity in the months ahead.