Fertilizer & agricultural commodity logistics
Bangladesh's farms need millions of tonnes of fertilizer a year, and most non-urea fertilizer is imported. BADC buys DAP, MOP and TSP, often under G2G contracts, while BCIC handles urea. Cargo arrives in bulk, is bagged into 50 kg bags at the port or the ghats, and moves on by water and road to godowns across the country. A late or wet cargo is felt in the field.
From ship to godown
- 01
Nomination and notices
Vessel nominated and accepted, often within 12 working hours. ETA notices go to the buyer and the vessel's agent at 15, 10, 7 and 5 days, then 72, 48 and 24 hours.
- 02
Arrival and NOR
NOR tendered in office hours (08:00–17:00, Saturday to Thursday, in a recent BADC contract). Laytime starts at 14:00 if NOR is before noon, otherwise at 08:00 next day.
- 03
Discharge
Grab discharge at berth, or into lighters at the outer anchorage or Harbaria, at the contract rate, for example 2,500 MT per weather working day.
- 04
Bagging
Bulk cargo is bagged into 50 kg net bags (WPP with inner liner in recent tenders) at the ghat or alongside.
- 05
Hand-over
Bags are delivered to BADC's C&F and transport agents, who move them to godowns across the country.
The products we support
Urea
Nitrogen fertilizer in granules or prills, handled by BCIC. Highly hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture and cakes if exposed to rain.
Diammonium phosphate
Phosphate and nitrogen in granules. BADC's largest non-urea import.
Muriate of potash
Potassium chloride, typically pink, free-flowing, around 60% K₂O minimum and 0.5% moisture maximum.
Triple super phosphate
Concentrated phosphate fertilizer, shipped in bulk and delivered bagged.
Contract points to watch
| Clause | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| Discharge rate terms | Rates are per weather working day with Fridays and holidays excluded (FHEX EIU). We keep an hour-by-hour SOF so every excluded period is recorded. |
| Draft surveys count | In recent BADC terms, draft surveys are part of laytime, so surveyors are booked before arrival. |
| Lightening | Who pays for lightening varies: buyer's time and account in one contract, owner's risk in a freight tender. We check this before the lighter programme is set. |
| Moisture and rain | Discharge stopped and hatches closed in rain, with stoppages recorded in the SOF. |
| Bags and weighment | Bag specification, 0.5% spare bags and weighment are often on the owner's account. We track bag count and torn bags daily. |
| Vessel age | Vessels over 15 years usually carry overage insurance cost; maximum age is often 25 years. |
Summarised from recent Bangladesh government tender schedules and contracts (2024–2026) for general information. Terms change between tenders and packages. Always work from your own contract, and ask us if anything is unclear.
Fertilizer terms, in brief
- PWWD
- Per weather working day: discharge rate counted only on working days when weather allows.
- FHEX EIU
- Fridays and holidays excluded, even if used.
- Hygroscopic
- Absorbs moisture from the air. Urea is the best-known example.
- Caking
- Granules sticking together into lumps after taking up moisture or under pressure.
- Tally
- A count of bags or units discharged, kept by tally clerks.
- Overage insurance
- Extra cargo insurance charged when the vessel is older than the insurer's age limit, often 15 years.