MONITORING FERTILIZER SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND IN A DEREGULATED MARKET

The fertilizer sector in Pakistan is on the verge of fundamental changes. Some barriers have been removed and others will follow. The process of privatization has greatly increased the need for monitoring supplies, prices and stocks. This paper describes the importance of continued monitoring of the fertilizer supply and demand situation and prices. This must be undertaken on a regular basis because while fertilizer consumption is purely seasonal, yet we continue to depend on imports of phosphatic and potassic fertilizer. Moreover, importation procedures take time. This paper also places emphasis on the correct forecasting of fertilizer demand, to avoid shortages for the farmers, or excess stocks which would yield low profits for the distributors.