Bangladesh Government to Buy 70,000 Tonnes of Fertiliser for Aman Season

Star Business Report, Dhaka — The government is set to purchase an additional 70,000 tonnes of various types of fertilisers to meet demand for the ongoing Aman season, which runs from July to October — as Bangladesh continues to secure agricultural inputs amid global supply disruptions and elevated international prices.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), in a meeting on 2 September 2026, approved proposals to purchase fertiliser from Morocco at rising international prices.

💰 Fertiliser Purchase Details

DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) Fertiliser:

• 💰 Quantity: 40,000 tonnes
• 💰 Source: Morocco
• 💰 Price per tonne: $894
• 💰 Total cost: approximately Tk 441 crore
• 📊 World Bank July average: $781 per tonne
• 📊 Previous purchase (Aug 24): $891 per tonne
• 📈 Price trend: gradually rising

TSP (Triple Superphosphate) Fertiliser:

• 💰 Quantity: 30,000 tonnes
• 💰 Source: Morocco
• 💰 Price per tonne: $669.33
• 💰 Total cost: Tk 247.79 crore
• 📊 World Bank July average: $719 per tonne
• 📈 Price trend: declining (got better price than WB average)

📊 National Fertiliser Context

• 🌾 Annual fertiliser demand: ~66 lakh tonnes
• 🌾 Rice cultivation share: ~75% of total fertiliser use
• 🌾 Import dependency: 85%+ of requirements met through imports
• 🌾 Aman + Boro seasons: account for 90%+ of national rice production
• 🌾 Chemical fertiliser needed for Aman + Boro: over 43 lakh tonnes
• 🌾 Fertiliser imported in last 2 weeks of August: 4.8 lakh tonnes

🌏 Strategic Context: Fertiliser Supply Security

The fertiliser purchases come amid broader supply security concerns:

• 📊 FY26 fertiliser import bill: $3.72 billion (up 42% YoY)
• 📊 FY26 fertiliser import volume: 5.10 million tonnes
• 📊 Canadian potash import: 480,000 tonnes (government-to-government, ID 463)
• 📊 FAO assessment: 50 lakh people need emergency agri aid (ID 487)
• 📊 BB Tk 10,000cr agri refinance: 7% interest rate (ID 483)
• 📊 WB fertiliser support: $300 million (June 2026)
• 📊 Iran war impact: Middle East fertiliser factories closed or reduced capacity

🌏 Strategic Implications

• ✅ 70,000 tonnes secured: for Aman season demand
• ✅ Morocco sourcing: diversified from Middle East suppliers
• ✅ TSP price below WB average: favourable procurement
• ✅ 4.8 lakh tonnes imported in 2 weeks: aggressive stockpiling
• ⚠️ DAP price rising: $894 vs $781 WB average (+14.6%)
• ⚠️ 85% import dependency: high exposure to global disruptions
• ⚠️ Iran war impact: Middle East fertiliser supply constrained
• ⚠️ FY26 import bill $3.72b: 42% YoY increase straining budget

The 70,000-tonne fertiliser purchase for the Aman season represents the government's continued effort to secure agricultural inputs amid elevated international prices and Middle East supply disruptions. The Aman and Boro seasons account for over 90 percent of national rice production, making fertiliser availability a critical food security concern — particularly given the FAO assessment that 50 lakh people need emergency agricultural assistance. The aggressive stockpiling (4.8 lakh tonnes in two weeks) and diversified sourcing from Morocco (rather than Middle East) demonstrate the government's proactive approach to managing fertiliser supply through the LDC graduation transition period.