STC calls urea tender
The State Trading Corp. of India called a urea tender to close May 19, with validity through May 27.
The announcement came earlier than industry watchers had expected. Most were looking at the tender to be called at the end of the month with late-June and mid-July shipment dates. The STC tender calls for shipping by July 5.
The shipping time includes some of the Chinese domestic season. Sources had speculated that any tender call before the end of the month could result in offers similar to the MMTC tender that closed last month. Chinese product will remain tight, leaving producers with no incentive to lower prices.
Four companies remain on “holiday” by STC for lack of performance in previous tenders. The companies are Helm, Blue Deebaj, Continental and Emmsons.