China has become the world largest producer and consumer of fertilizer, said the China Agricultural Production Means Circulation Association on Tuesday.

China produces about one third of the world fertilizer every year and consumes about 35 percent, said the association.

China uses 67 percent of its fertilizers on grain crops and nearly 50 percent of its grain produce comes from the use of fertilizers.

China is also a big importer and exporter of fertilizers. Statistics show that, in the January-September period, the country imported 7.71 million tons of fertilizer and exported 3.44 million tons.

Imports are expected to reach 12.5 million tons for the whole year and exports 4.5 million tons.

China produced 11.25 million tons of phosphate fertilizer last year and consumed 11.67 million tons, ranking first in the world on both counts.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)