Two consignments of urea, imported by Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to meet demand in Rabi season, have reached Gwadar Port. In August this year, the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet asked TCP to import 0.3 million tons of urea to avoid any shortage during Rabi crop as the domestic urea plants were unable to produce commodity due to gas curtailment.
Following the ECC directives, TCP successfully opened tender for urea import on August 27, 2012 and finally awarded the contract letters to four international suppliers, which were agreed to supply urea at lowest price of $399.38 per ton. Out of 12 participants, M/s Key Trade AG Switzerland offered the lowest price of $399.38 per ton for 100,000 tons and accordingly got contracts letter. To complete the procurement of total targeted quantity of 300,000 tons, TCP invited other bidders to match the lowest bid, hence the import contracts for balance quantity were awarded to three other bidders namely M/s Dreymoor Fertiliser Overseas (PTE) Ltd, Singapore for 100,000 tons, M/s CHS Europe, Switzerland for 50,000 tons and M/s Transammonia AG Switzerland, for 50,000 tons.
As per schedule, submitted by the successful bidders, the two ships namely “Mandrin Glory” and “Marie Paul” carrying about 50,733 tons and 47,640 tons urea, respectively has reached Gwadar Port and both ships are now under discharge port.
Sources said another ship Namely Shan Dong Hai Tong carrying some 52,447 tons of urea has also arrived at FAP. In addition, three more ships are expected to reach Pakistan in first and second week of October 2012. With timely arrival of first consignment, it seems that TCP will complete urea import operation in specified time period to avoid any shortage in Rabi season. “Urea operation, being conducted by TCP, is likely to be completed in third week of October 2012,” they added.
