The production of urea has been marginally less than the target set for September, official figures have indicated.

“Estimated production of urea during September was 17.66 lakh MT against the target of 18.28 lakh MT. The estimated production of DAP during the month was 3.25 lakh MT as against the target of 4.22 lakh MT. The production of DAP had been less than the target by 0.97 lakh MT,” the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) said in a release.

During September 2011, approximately 25.17 lakh MT (both indigenous and imported) urea was despatched to various states.

Availability of urea during the month of September was about 28.00 lakh MT and availability was satisfactory in all the states. Further, sale of urea in the current season up to 30.9.2011 was about 139.21 lakh MT which is higher by 10.47 per cent as compared to the sale of 126.02 lakh MT in the corresponding period of the previous year, the DCPC said.

Regarding decontrolled fertilizers, availability of DAP and MOP during the month of September had been about 11.32 lakh MT and 0.64 lakh MT respectively, which was adequate to meet the demand of the states.

During the month of September, 8.33 lakh MT of urea was imported of which 1.12 lakh MT was imported from OMIFCO, Oman and 7.21 lakh MT from others.

In addition, 8.64 lakh MT of DAP, 1.29 lakh MT of MAP, 3.91 lakh MT of NPK and 3.16 lakh MT of MOP was also imported into the country, the DCPC said.