Official sources said the government is discussing today a dispute between the ministries of agriculture and trade over raising prices of the production and distribution of fertilizers.
The sources explained that the Ministry of Agriculture rejects any increase in prices, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry requests an increase of up to LE500 per ton to cope with the rising costs of production and the irregular supply of gas to fertilizer plants.
But they said the Ministry of Agriculture might be compelled to approve the increase with the start of the winter planting season in October, as it has already approved an LE10 additional subsidy for transporting fertilizers from the factories to the distribution outlets.
According to an official report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt needs up to 9.7 million metric tons of fertilizers, of which 66 percent or are used for summer crops and 34 percent for winter crops.
The Abu Qir company produces 140,000 metric tons of fertilizers, the Delta company produces 40,000 metric tons, the Egyptian Fertilizers company 31,000 metric tons, the Alexandria Fertilizers company 17,000 metric tons and the Helwan fertilizers company 23,000 metric tons.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
