Supply and demand relations in China's fertilizer market will keep balanced this year, according to the latest report released by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

The ministry predicts fertilizer demand for the whole year to hit 51 million tons, up 5.6 percent year on year, and domestic fertilizer output to reach about 47 million tons.

Imported fertilizer supply and demand will be balanced this year, according to the ministry.

The urea price rose month by month from January to July this year, but started to decline in August, the ministry said.

Generally speaking, fertilizer prices in the first three quarters still rose remarkably year on year, acknowledged the ministry, expecting fertilizer prices not to drop much in the fourth quarter due to high cost of energy and raw materials.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2005)