Bowing to pressure caused by reports of urea shortages, MMTC called a tender for prilled or granular urea to close Jan. 27 with validity through Feb. 4. The last date for shipping is March 13.
Indian media have been full of stories of complaints of urea shortages from places around the country. In response, local politicians have been leaning on the national government to increase the amount of urea available for the end of the current application season. International traders said just last week that once the last of the IPL tons arrive the complaints of shortages would cease.
Sources say Chinese producers immediately began asking higher prices in response to the tender call.
Blue Deebaj remains blacklisted from Indian tenders because of its failure to come through with its award after Chinese producers raised the price of the product. Continental and Emmsons are also on what MMTC calls the “holiday list” for the same reason.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain