Ten days after the urea production in the petrochemical complex of Bulo Bulo, Cochabamba, the local demand for the fertilizer reached 6,000 tons
According to data provided by Yacimientos Petrolifos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), after the reopening of operations at the Ammonia and Urea Plant (PAU) on September 6, demand in the domestic market far exceeded expectations.
The cost of the fertilizer was set at US $ 554 per t, with a special one-time discount of 8% for the months of September and October, bringing the current price to US $ 510 per t, which is accessible to Bolivian producers.
The manager of Derivatives and Industrialized Products of YPFB, Gabriela Delgadillo, reported in recent days – through a press release – that in recent days sales in the domestic market of approximately 6,000 t were recorded, which doubles the initial expectation that bordered on the 3,000 t of the fertilizer.
“This indicator is explained by the beginning of the summer season in eastern Bolivia in rice and corn crops, as well as the fertilization season for sugar cane. The prices set by YPFB are very advantageous for national farmers who, until now, have been buying urea abroad at a price that ranges between $ 750 and $ 800 per ton, “said Delgadillo.
According to the authority, the National Association of Oilseed and Wheat Producers (Anapo), Unión de Cañeros, the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO) and other agro-industries, as well as individual clients and distributors in the country, accepted the price and contacted with the commercial team of YPFB to close the purchases.
Regarding the export market, Delgadillo said that sales are also successful, since in the first year of the restart of activities (September 2021 to September 2022), the PAU estimates to produce 590,000 t of urea, of which between 8 and 10 % is destined for the domestic market.
In recent days, YPFB’s Vice President of Operations, Luciano Montellano, reported that PAU has assured the sale of 200,000 t of the fertilizer to the foreign market until the end of the year, of which 193,000 t are destined for Brazil.
He said that currently the plant operates at 70% of its production capacity (1,470 tons per day) and that the projection for next year is to reach 85% to cover the local and export markets, with which revenues of up to $ us 22 million per month.
The Ammonia and Urea Plant restarted operations on September 6, after being paralyzed since November 2019, as a result of the bad policies of the de facto government of Jeanine Áñez, which generated an economic damage for the State of US $ 450 million and the loss markets.
Source: ABI
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