March 29, 2012

Vietnam Q1 fertiliser imports down 13.5% to US$184 million

Vietnam's spending on imported fertilisers in the first quarter is estimated at US$266 million; with the 618,000 tonnes of fertilisers representing on-year decrease of 13.5% in value and 27.4% on volume, according to the General Statistics Office.

Over the last month, fertiliser import volume increased from 220,000 tonnes worth US$90 million in February to an estimated 240,000 tonnes worth US$108 million in March.

The Ca Mau urea fertiliser plant, which has an annual capacity of 800,000 tonnes, has been in operation since late January. This increase in output is likely to reduce Vietnam's import of fertilisers this year.

However, the country still has to import SA and all potassium fertilisers, mostly from China, the Philippines, Belarus and Canada.

China remains the biggest fertiliser exporter to Vietnam, followed by the Philippines and Canada.