Imports of fertilisers increased in the first five months of the year to 1.5 million tonnes totalling 622 million USD, up 32 percent and 21 percent, respectively, over the same period last year.

Last month alone, the country imported 438,000 tonnes worth 180 million USD, increasing 438 percent in quantity over the previous month.

Customs statistics show that in the first five months, ammonium sulphate fertiliser imports hit 404,000 tonnes, the highest amount, accounting for 26 percent of the total, up 9.6 percent.

Last month alone, 377,000 tonnes were imported, a rise of 26 percent over the same month last year.

Kali fertiliser imports ranked second with 313,000 tonnes last month, up 240 percent over the previous month, bringing its total import in the five-month period to 377,000 tonnes. 

DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser followed with an import quantity of 327,000 tonnes, a 76.5 percent rise over the same period last year. -VNA