The Bangladeshi government faces $117,309 in fines due to delays in letters of credit (LC) clearance and payments for importing urea fertilizer from the UAE and Qatar. A 15-day delay for a shipment from UAE’s Fertilizer resulted in $107,024 in demurrage charges for a vessel at Ruwais Port, while Qatar’s Muntajat seeks $10,285 for an eight-day payment delay.
BCIC officials warned of a potential urea shortage in the upcoming Boro season, beginning in December, with a projected demand of 1.8 million tons until March 2025 and only 500,000 tons currently in stock. Financial constraints have hindered gas supply to closed fertilizer factories, affecting local production. The BCIC is preparing to issue an international tender to meet urea demand. The ongoing dollar crisis has led to penalties for late payments on gas and fuel imports, marking the first penalties for delayed fertilizer payments. Urgent resolution of these issues is necessary to prevent further disruptions in fertilizer supplies.