By INP-WealthPK ISLAMABAD Nov 10 (INP-WealthPK): The fertiliser industry has sold 5.1 million metric tons of urea in the first 10 months of 2021 as compared to 4.6 million metric tons in the corresponding period of 2020, fulfilling the increasing domestic demand by supplying 10 per cent additional urea as compared to last year. Further, the fertiliser industry of Pakistan is providing urea at an 83 per cent discounted price which is equivalent to Rs 8,500 per bag as compared to the international prices enabled by the Fertiliser Policy 2001. Executive Director of Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) – a representative body of the fertiliser manufacturers in Pakistan, Sher Shah Malik said in a media release that the local fertiliser industry continued to ensure adequate and affordable supply of urea. However, he said, an unprecedented level of discount to international prices has led to market manipulation and significant black marketing by middlemen/dealers. “The urea industry MRP (maximum retail price) is currently at Rs 1,768/bag, farmers are being sold urea in excess of Rs 2,000/bag in various parts of the country as a result of abnormal gains being pocketed by dealers,” he added. “The perception of the shortage of urea in the market is not grounded in reality as the fertiliser industry has already sold over 5 million metric tons in the first 10 months of the year which is the highest ever sold quantity of urea during the last 10 years,” Sher Shah Malik said in the statement. Furthermore, he said that with the continued operation of RLNG plants and adequate inventory levels, the fertiliser industry will be able to meet the full-year demand of 6.3 million metric tons of urea which will be a record high in the decade on the back of improved farm economics. The government of Pakistan has recently issued an import tender of 100,000-ton urea, while the C&F (cost and freight) prices are in the range of US$900-1,000 per ton.