The urea producing plants of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BC1C) have tripled their fertilizer-export over the last three fiscal years (FY).

The BCIC urea plants exported 1.38 lakh metric tons (MT) of fertilizer valued at Taka 69.87 crore in the FY 1991-92 while the volume rose to 5,04 lakh MT in the last FY. according to a BCIC source.

The country earned foreign exchange equivalenf to over Taka 208 crore by exporting urea in the last fiscal year.

The source said that the

export might rise In the current fiscal year. The BCIC had exported 1.20 lakh MT of urea valued at over Taka 35 erore last July.

In the year 1992-93. the country had earned foreign exchange equivalent to over Taka 182 crore by exporting 3.86 lakh MT of urea.

The Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) exported one-third of the total in the year 1992-93.

Of the country's six urea producing factories (except the KAFCO). the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL). Jamuna Fertilizer Company Limited in Jamalpur and Zia

Fertilizer Company Limited in Ashuganj exported the maximum quantity of urea last year.

Another source said the government's policy has resulted in a decrease in the urea-export, but the urea producing plants have the capacity to increase the export with its production after meeting the demand of urea in the country.

Now the country is producing over 21 lakh metric tons of urea every year while the country needs some 16 lakh metric tons, the source said.

He said the country still has 3.39 lakh MT of urea in reserve