The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March threatened not only fuel but also fertilizer supply to Bangladesh, as it entered its planting season. A state agency responsible for imports says that Saudi help allowed emergency supplies to reach on time, reducing food security risks.
Mid-March to mid-July is one of Bangladesh’s three main agricultural seasons, and is vital for the rural economy as it provides rice and cash crops like jute ahead of the annual monsoon floods. When the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out and imports from the Gulf region stopped, fertilizer imports from the region were halted.
Emergency Response from Saudi Arabia and UAE
“At the same time, our domestic fertilizer producers were also forced to stop production due to a shortage of raw materials,” Mohammad Fazlur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, told Arab News. “We issued a tender inviting suppliers, but unfortunately received no response … We approached Saudi SABIC and Fertiglobe in the UAE to provide us with fertilizer on an emergency basis.”
Bangladesh meets part of its needs through domestic production and imports about 1.55 million tonnes of urea fertilizer — 65 percent from the Kingdom and 35 percent from the UAE. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation — one of the world’s largest chemical producers — is Bangladesh’s biggest supplier among Saudi producers and across the Gulf region.
“We have a long-term friendship with SABIC and they agreed, considering the gravity of the situation. To organize this alternative channel of shipment, the Saudi exporter transported the fertilizer 1,200 km by road from Al-Jubail Port to Yanbu Port,” Rahman said. “Fertiglobe also managed the export from a port in Egypt, as they have production facilities there.”
Impact on Food Security and Imports
Most of the supply came from SABIC. “Due to this support at a critical moment, we have been able to maintain consistent fertilizer supplies to our farmers. The most crucial period was March and, to some extent, April,” Rahman said. “Timely supply is crucial for a country like Bangladesh, as it is directly linked to the food security of nearly 170 million people.”
The emergency situation has contributed to a 30 percent increase in Bangladesh’s imports from Saudi Arabia since last year, according to Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation’s data. “Saudi Arabia provided significant assistance in meeting Bangladesh’s fertilizer demand amid the conflict situation. There is no doubt that the Kingdom is a reliable supplier,” Rahman said. “Saudi Arabia has been a very tested friend to us for many years. They always stand by our people.”
