Prime Minister Kim: "Some Chinese Urea Solution Has Arrived at the Port... Requesting Passage"

National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee Plenary Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is responding to a lawmaker's question at the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 5th. November 5, 2021. Photo by the National Assembly Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated on the 5th regarding the urea solution shortage, which is causing a supply shortage domestically, "I understand that the goods are already at the Chinese port," and added, "We will first request passage through the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs (Customs Service)."

Prime Minister Kim made these remarks during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts in response to a question from Kang Jun-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding urea solution. The domestic urea solution market relies on 97% of raw materials imported from China, but since mid-last month, the Chinese government has blocked imports citing reasons such as coal shortages, causing a supply shortage. Currently, it is unknown when imports from China will resume, but Prime Minister Kim revealed that related goods are already at the Chinese export port.

However, Prime Minister Kim added, "We cannot just rely on China," and said, "We are looking for other import routes, including through third countries such as Middle Eastern countries."

Prime Minister Kim also stated, "We are checking whether there is any hoarding behavior in the domestic market, and since we cannot paralyze logistics itself, the Ministry of Environment and others are examining whether to take some excessive measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.