Five major fertiliser plants in Bangladesh have resumed operations, a development expected to alleviate pressure on the country’s domestic urea supply. The facilities—Ghorashal–Polash, Shahjalal, Jamuna, Chittagong Urea Fertiliser, and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (KAFCO)—together have a daily production capacity of approximately 8,400 tonnes, according to industry sources.
Md Moniruzzaman, Director of Production and Research at the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), attributed the recommencement to improved gas supplies, which had been a key factor limiting plant operations. However, he cautioned that the combined production capacity does not necessarily reflect actual output, as gas shortages and technical faults have frequently led to shutdowns.
Among the plants, Ghorashal–Polash, the largest in the country, maintains a daily capacity of 2,800 tonnes, while KAFCO can produce 2,000 tonnes, Shahjalal 1,300 tonnes, Jamuna 1,200 tonnes, and Chittagong Urea Fertiliser 1,100 tonnes. Jamuna Fertiliser Company Limited resumed production on October 6 after a roughly seven-and-a-half-month halt caused by gas shortages, but operations were suspended again on October 8 due to a boiler leak. Chittagong Urea Fertiliser has also restarted production after a shutdown, and KAFCO, a joint venture, was scheduled to recommence operations on October 15 following maintenance.
Officials from Jamuna Fertiliser Company noted that the plant requires about 46 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas for uninterrupted production but can operate with between 42 and 43 MMcf/d. Prior to resuming, gas supply had been limited to 27–28 MMcf/d. In March, a gas supply crisis forced the closure of four BCIC-managed urea plants along with KAFCO, leaving Shahjalal Fertiliser as the only major plant in operation at the time. BCIC indicated that the five state-owned plants collectively need around 97 MMcf/d of natural gas to run at full capacity.
Bangladesh continues to depend heavily on imported urea to satisfy agricultural demands. Value chain expert Prof. Dr. Rashidul Hasan emphasized that repeated disruptions in domestic production increase pressure on imports, foreign exchange reserves, and government subsidies for fertiliser. He noted that consistent plant operations could improve availability for farmers and reduce import dependence, but this will require reliable gas supplies, routine maintenance, and addressing recurring technical issues. Ensuring timely delivery of fertiliser to authorized dealers and farmers, especially during peak agricultural periods, is also crucial.
Bangladesh’s annual chemical fertiliser requirement exceeds 6.5 million tonnes, including more than 3.0 million tonnes of urea. The country imports over 2.0 million tonnes of urea and approximately 3.5 million tonnes of non-urea fertiliser each year. The agriculture ministry recently reported holding a stockpile of 1.5 million tonnes of fertiliser and aims to import an additional 0.95 million tonnes of non-urea fertiliser by December.