Bangladesh has signed a two-year agreement to import 400,000 tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer annually from Saudi Arabia, as announced by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) on Sunday. This deal is part of the South Asian nation’s efforts to strengthen food security amid rising demand and decreasing arable land due to urbanization.
The agreement was finalized on December 15 in Riyadh between the BADC and Saudi state-owned company Ma’aden, continuing a longstanding partnership. Ahmed Hassan Al-Mahmud, BADC’s general manager, emphasized the importance of high-quality fertilizers in boosting agricultural productivity for Bangladesh’s 175 million people.
Under the deal, Ma’aden will not only supply fertilizers until 2026 but also provide training to Bangladeshi farmers to optimize DAP use. The company has further proposed building fertilizer warehouses in Bangladesh, enhancing storage and distribution infrastructure.
The Saudi imports will meet about one-third of Bangladesh’s annual DAP requirement of 1.3 million tons. Additionally, the agreement offers a cost advantage, with fertilizers priced $2 per ton lower than the average market rate, saving Bangladesh significant funds.
Al-Mahmud praised Saudi Arabia as a “dependable and reliable source,” citing the Kingdom’s efficiency in delivery, which takes only two weeks compared to six weeks from Morocco. Over 15 years of consistent supply from Saudi Arabia have cemented the Kingdom’s position as Bangladesh’s preferred fertilizer supplier.
This collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing role in Bangladesh’s agricultural development, further solidifying ties between the two nations.
