FERTILIZER PRODUCTION FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 2002

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The estimated production of fertilizers during June this year was 9.29 lakh MT of Nitrogen and that of phosphate was 3.41 lakh MT. The overall capacity utilization in June, 2002 was 91.3% for Nitrogen and 76.4% for Phosphate. The cumulative production of fertilizers during April-June, 2002 is estimated as 24.75 lakh MT of nitrogen and 9.68 lakh MT of Phosphate.

Despatches, availability and sales:

Urea

During June, 2002, 16.82 lakh MTs urea was dispatched to the States against the target of 17.00 lakh MT. Cumulative availability of urea during the current Kharif by the end of June, 2002 had been 56.82 lakh MTs including opening stock of 13.03 lakh MTs. This was 53% of the allocation of 107.00 lakh MTs under Essential Commodities Act (ECA) for the season. The availability of urea has been satisfactory in all the States so far during the Kharif 2002 season and no State has reported shortage of urea.

The sales of urea upto 30.06.2002 was 28.75 lakh MTs which had been lower by about 10% as compared with the sales of 31.77 lakh MTs in the corresponding period of the previous year.

DAP

Cumulative availability of DAP during the current Kharif by the end of June, 2002 had been 18.32 lakh MTs as compared to the availability of 18.36 lakh MTs during the corresponding period of the previous year. The sales of DAP upto 30.06.2002 was 9.21 lakh MTs which had been lower by about 8% as compared with the sales of 10.01 lakh MTs in the corresponding period of the previous year.

MOP

Cumulative availability of MOP during the current Kharif by the end of June, 2002 had been 7.91 lakh MTs compared to the availability of 7.61 lakh MTs during the corresponding period of previous year. During Kharif 2002 (upto 30.06.2002) total sales, including sales to complex manufacturers had been 4.43 lakh MTs which had been lower by about 5% as compared to the sales of 4.67 lakh MTs during the corresponding period of previous year.

The availability of DAP and MOP had been satisfactory in June, 2002 in all the States.

Imports

There was no import of urea and DAP during June, 2002. In addition, during the month under review, 2.39 lakh MTs of MOP have been imported. The cumulative arrivals for the current year of DAP and MOP in the country had been 0.76 lakh MTs, 5.42 lakh MTs respectively.

Loading by railways

The average daily loading of fertilizers by rail during June, 2002 was 3525 equivalent BG wagons per day.