Indian urea import tender sees bumper participation

LONDON (ICIS)–Indian state-run fertilizer importer Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) today received 16 offers for a total of 3.6m tonnes of prilled and granular urea in its tender.

The number is significantly higher than the previous tender at end August when MMTC Limited received 13 offers for a total of 2.3m tonnes.

RCF is expected to open price offers on 12 October, with validity expiring on 19 October. The shipment is due to be loaded by 15 November.

RCF India Urea Tender Offered Quantities 9 October 2020
Supplier/Origin	Quantity	Ports
Ameropa	1,017,000	7 cargoes for west coast, five east coast
Swiss Singapore	474,000	6 west coast and 4 east coast
Fertiglobe/UAE/Egypt	375,000	6 cargoes on FOB basis; Kandla, Mundra
Samsung	276,000	3 each west and east coast
Dreymoor	200,000	Gangavaram, Pipavav
Koch	200,000	Gangavaram, Vizag, Mundra, Pipavav
Midgulf	190,000	Gangavaram, Krishnapatnam, Hazira, Tuna
Amber	190,000	2 each east and west coast
Continental	150,000	East and west coast ports
Transglobe	150,000	Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram, Rozi
Gavilon	135,000	Karaikal, Mundra
Sun International	90,000	Mundra, Krishnapatnam
Agrifert Liven	45,000	Kandla, Mundra, Adani, Rozi
SABIC/Saudi Arabia	45,000	Mundra, Pipavav
GPIC/Bahrain	45,000	FOB offer
Helwan/Egypt	45,000	FOB offer
Total	3,627,000

Swiss-based trader Ameropa offered over 1m tonnes, and it was the first time for Egyptian producer Helwan to offer directly in an Indian tender.

Price expectations are now in the high-$270s/tonne CFR (cost & freight).

“It’s tricky to get the price right, to be among the lower offers but not quote too low… Those who quoted too high a price will not have a chance to sell this time with so much offered,” said a seller.

MMTC Limited bought 1.8m tonnes of urea at $283.52-288.89/tonne CFR and $280/tonne FOB in its previous tender on 26 August.

India is likely to need another 3.5m tonnes of urea over the next three months.