SRO issued to allow potassium sulphate export from Gwadar, reflecting port-city’s growing role in Pakistan’s economy.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has issued a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) allowing the export of potassium sulphate from Gwadar Port. The federal government has authorized two companies to export the product, with strict quantitative controls to be monitored through the WeBOC customs system for real-time tracking of export data.
According to SRO 705(1) 2025, under the authority granted by Section 3(1) of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950, the federal government has instructed an amendment to the Export Policy Order, 2022.
The SRO specifies that in Schedule-I, Column (1), against Serial No. 12, in Column (4), after the word “agencies,” the following shall be added: “Export of potassium sulphate (K2SO4) (HS Code: 3104.3000) from Gwadar Port by companies manufacturing in the Gwadar Free Zone.”
Sources revealed that two major companies — Agven Private Limited (fertilizer production) and Hangeng Trade Company Private Limited (meat and agricultural processing) — are fully established and operational in Gwadar’s North Free Zone.
Agven, a fertilizer company registered in the North Free Zone, has started producing potassium sulphate at its plant, with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons.
Pakistan’s total annual consumption of potassium sulphate is around 50,000 tons, while the national installed production capacity is approximately 65,000 tons per year, including the 20,000 tons from Gwadar Free Zone.
Agven had shown its interest in exporting its potassium sulphate production from Gwadar Port through an application submitted on October 28, 2024.
The company clarified that it does not utilize any subsidized raw materials or domestic resources, such as gas, and imports its main raw material, potassium chloride, directly from abroad, ensuring no impact on the domestic fertilizer supply.
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA), the export of urea and fertilizers is generally banned under Serial Nos. 11 and 12 of Schedule-I of the Export Policy Order, 2022. After several meetings with the Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Commerce, and the FBR, it was concluded that a relaxation of the Export Policy Order was necessary to allow the export of potassium sulphate from Gwadar.
The Gwadar Port Authority supported Agven’s request for an exemption, stating that the export would help in the development and operationalization of Gwadar Port.
Additionally, the exports would boost production capacity within the Gwadar Free Zone and contribute to earning valuable foreign exchange.
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