Bangladesh expects seven ships carrying 250,000 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) to arrive in September as non-urea fertiliser imports regain momentum following uncertainty caused by conflict in the Middle East, according to the agriculture ministry and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

Of the seven vessels en route to Bangladesh, one is carrying 40,000 tonnes of DAP, four carry a combined 150,000 tonnes of MOP and two carry a total of 60,000 tonnes of TSP. The Moroccan DAP shipment is due in port on September 8, the same day as one of two Moroccan TSP vessels; the second TSP ship is expected on September 11.

The MOP cargoes comprise 70,000 tonnes from Russia across two 35,000-tonne consignments and 80,000 tonnes from Canada in two 40,000-tonne shipments. Two of the four MOP consignments are due this week, with the remaining two expected on September 13 and 15.

A further 10 vessels carrying DAP, MOP and TSP are in the final stages of the import process and are expected to arrive in October.

A senior BADC official involved in the fertiliser import process told Bonik Barta anonymously that 10 to 12 such ships would arrive each month until January. “The September shipments are already on their way,” the official said, adding that some October cargoes had finished loading while others were still being loaded, and that letters of credit for subsequent months would be opened shortly.

BADC estimates put peak-season demand for DAP between September and February at 1.12 million tonnes, compared with 680,000 tonnes already being processed for import or under negotiation, including cargoes now at sea. Demand for MOP over the same period is projected at 672,000 tonnes, against 680,000 tonnes in the import pipeline including shipments due in September. TSP demand is forecast at 519,000 tonnes, with 360,000 tonnes in the final stages of the import process or under government-to-government contract negotiations.

Demand for fertiliser peaks from late October to mid-February, coinciding with the planting of winter vegetables, potatoes, onions, maize and the main boro rice crop. That window accounts for about 40 percent of annual fertiliser consumption.

Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam said current import volumes aligned with demand, but warned that the approaching rabi and boro seasons required immediate stock building. “We must not rely solely on imports; domestic production must also rise,” he told Bonik Barta, adding that Bangladesh could achieve self-sufficiency at least in urea if import flows remained steady and local output increased.

The shipments follow weeks of complaints from farmers during the aman season over dealer-level shortages and being forced to buy fertiliser at higher prices. In Kurigram, farmers broke into a dealer’s warehouse and took fertiliser, sparking nationwide attention. The agriculture ministry subsequently took a tougher line, and the government transferred several agricultural officials accused of negligence.

The ministry has repeatedly maintained that there is no national shortage.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said fertiliser imports were an ongoing process, with monthly shipment volumes adjusted to match demand. “We need to import around 5 million to 5.5 million tonnes of fertiliser a year. It’s not possible to bring in that much at once, nor do we have enough warehouse capacity to store it. Keeping fertiliser in storage for too long can also affect its quality. So we import fertiliser according to demand and deliver it to farmers,” he explained.

Addressing import security, he said each type of fertiliser is imported from at least three sources so that disruptions in one supply chain can be offset elsewhere.

“Fertiliser imports from Saudi Arabia and Qatar were suspended for a few days due to the war in the Middle East. The two countries later resumed supplies through alternative routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. We are now importing fertiliser along those routes as well, so there’s no uncertainty over supplies,” the minister said.