February 16, 2012
Vietnam to slash potassium fertiliser import from 2014
Vietnam will cut down its potassium fertiliser imports from 2014, when Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) begins operation on its new plant in Laos.
Vinachem has invested US$450 million into the plant in Nongbok district, Khammouan province of Laos which is expected to produce 320,000 tonnes of potassium fertiliser every year.
The plant is located in a complex producing potassium salt in the neighbouring country.
The building of the plant is part of Vinachem's development plan of the fertiliser industry in the 2011-2015 period.
Vietnam has to import 100% of potassium fertiliser needed for the agricultural production, with 612,000 tonnes in 2009, 900,000 tonnes in 2010 and 920,000 tonnes in 2011.
The import volume of potassium fertiliser this year is estimated at around 920,000 tonnes, while the total import volume of fertilisers of all types will be 2.6 million tonnes.