Vietnam imported 2.8 million tons of fertilizers worth 629 million U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year, posting respective year-on-year rises of 8.8 percent and 9.7 percent.

In the period, Vietnam spent 159 million dollars on importing 660,000 tons of urea, mainly from China, Indonesia, Russia and the Middle East, down 13.7 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Friday.

Vietnam imported 2.9 million tons of fertilizers, including 883, 000 tons of urea, totaling 648 million dollars in 2005, down 29.7 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively.

Vietnam, home to over 150 fertilizer producers with each annual capacity ranging from 500 tons to one million tons, has planned to build four major fertilizer plants with a combined annual capacity of nearly 1.8 million tons in the 2005-2010 period, according to the Vietnam Fertilizer Association.

Source: Xinhua