Almost 78 per cent of the total quantum increase of 86 thousand tonnes N was contributed by the straight fertilisers. The balance 22 per cent came through the complex fertilisers. Production of P2O5 at 355 thousand tonnes during August 2000 registered a growth of 13 per cent compared to August '99. The increased production came through complex fertilisers while production of straight fertiliser (SSP) declined during the period.

Production of P2O5 through complex fertilisers increased by 54 thousand tonnes whereas P2O5 through SSP declined by 14 thousand tonnes. This resulted in a net increase of 40 thousand tonnes in P2O5 production during August 2000 compared to August '99. Production of N and P2O5 during August 2000 surpassed the target by 35 and 5 thousand tonnes respectively. Capacity utilisation level of N and P2O5 during August 2000, however, remained unchanged at the level of August '99 at 108 and 96 per cent respectively.

Compared to the previous month, i.e,July 2000, production of fertiliser nutrients (N+P2O5) during August 2000 at 1.406 million tonnes was higher by about 4 per cent. Production of N at 1.051 million tonnes during August 2000 recorded an increase of 3 per cent compared to July 2000.

Similarly, production of P2O5 at 355 thousand tonnes recorded a growth of 5 per cent during the same period. Accordingly, capacity utilisation of N and P2O5 increased from 104 and 91 per cent during July 2000 to 108 and 96 per cent respectively during August 2000.

Cumulative production of total fertiliser nutrients (N+P2O5) at 6.049 million tonnes during April/August 2000 recorded an increase of 5 per cent compared to April/August'99. The increase was recorded in both N as well as P2O5. Production of N at 4.490 million tonnes during April/August 2000 registered a growth of 2 per cent compared to April/August'99.

The entire increase in production came through complex fertilisers while production of straight N (mainly urea)declined during the period. Increased contribution in total N came from complex fertilisers by about 98 thousand tonnes while through straight fertilisers it declined by 13 thousand tonnes. This resulted in a net quantum increase of 85 thousand tonnes in total N production during the period.

Production P2O5 at 1.559 million tonnes during April/August 2000 recorded an increase of 14 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The increase was on account of complex fertilisers while contribution through straight fertilisers (SSP) declined during the period. Production of P2O5 through complex fertilisers increased by 218 thousand tonnes while contribution from SSP declined by 29 thousand tonnes.

Thus total P2O5 production increased by 218 thousand tonnes while contribution from SSP declined by 29 thousand tonnes. Thus total P2O5 production increased by 189 thousand tonnes during April/August 2000 compared to April/August'99. Production of N and P2O5 surpassed the target by 14 and 60 thousand tonnes respectively.

Capacity utilisation of N and P2O5 declined from 99 and 86 per cent during April/Aug.'99 to 92 and 85 per cent respectively during April/Aug.2000. Despite increase in production of N and P2O5, capacity utilisation declined due to proportionately larger increase in capacity compared to production. Increase in capacity was mainly due to reassessment in capacity of some of the urea plants besides commissioning of one complex plant during the period.

(Excerpted from Fertiliser News, October 2000)