- Cabinet approves tender for 20,000 MT of urea
- Pvt. sector expected to import 85,000 MT
Sri Lanka’s fertiliser supply chain is ramping up procurement efforts as both State agencies and private importers secure stocks ahead of the upcoming Maha cultivation season.
Cabinet approved the proposal to call for tenders to procure 20,000 MT of urea for the upcoming Maha cultivation season, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said.
The procurement comprises 10,000 MT of granular urea and 10,000 MT of prilled urea. The tender is scheduled to close on 7 July.
Jayatissa said that the Department of Agriculture had estimated a total requirement of 169,635 MT of chemical fertiliser for crops cultivated during the Maha season, based on its fertiliser recommendations.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, National Fertiliser Secretariat (NFS) Director Chandana Lokuhewage said that a multi-pronged procurement programme was underway to meet the estimated seasonal requirement of 180,000 MT of urea.
“Private companies are currently in discussions and have indicated that they will import approximately 85,000 MT for this season. Even the market price of urea has declined slightly,” he said.
Lokuhewage also confirmed that a shipment of 12,000 MT of urea was being unloaded at present, while another 6,000 MT shipment was scheduled to arrive on 13 July.
He noted that the Government typically accounted for only 10–15% of the country’s total fertiliser supply, with more than 20 private companies participating in the market.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation Secretary D.P. Wickremasinghe said the fertiliser market remained highly competitive.
“There are currently around 40 companies importing fertiliser into Sri Lanka,” he said. “It is not just us supplying fertiliser; the private sector imports the majority.”
Approximately 800,000 hectares of paddy land are expected to be cultivated during the upcoming Maha season. In addition to paddy cultivation, urea fertiliser is required for tea, vegetables, fruits, and other crops, while maintaining adequate national fertiliser reserves.