The company, formerly Thanh Tai Fertilizer Company (Thataco), was established in 1973. Over the past 40 years, the company has made special contributions to the development of the country’s agricultural sector.

After the Southern Liberation Day in 1975, Thataco was managed by the state and its name changed Binh Dien Fertilizer Factory II, under the Southern Fertilizer Company in 1976. During this period, the factory operated ineffectively and was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 1989, Le Quoc Phong who then worked as head of the factory’s organizational department was appointed director of the factory. He successfully restructured the company, organized training courses for employees, improved the technology and devised many effective measures to revise the factory. The image of a head of a buffalo was selected as the logo of the factory’s products.

Dau Trau fertilizer products.Photo: Le Minh The modern laboratory in Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company. Photo: Nguyen Luan Analyzing quality of samples at the laboratory. Photo: Le Minh Checking the development of fungus at the the laboratory. Photo: Le Minh

“Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company has a target of increasing its total productivity to 1.2-1.5 million tonnes, including 15% organic products in 2015.” (Le Quoc Phong, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Fertilizer Association and General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company)

At that time, the factory successfully manufactured one-grain NPK product, the first fertilizer of this kind in Vietnam in the ratio of urea, phosphate and kali of 14, 8, 6 respectively that contained all necessary nutriments for plants. The first batches of the fertilizers were given to the farmers free of charge to promote the factory’s product.

With this product, the factory made a breakthrough in the field of manufacturing fertilizers in Vietnam and affirmed the position of made-in-Vietnam fertilizers in the market which were able of competing with imported fertilizers in terms of quality and price. All contributed to the development of the industry of manufacturing NPK fertilizers and triggered a movement of using fertilizers in the country.

To further improve the quality of product, the factory established a scientific and technological advisory council with the country’s leading agronomists who researched the soil and nutrient for plants. Therefore, the factory successfully produced high-class NPK 20.20.15 that was considered a breakthrough in the 90s because it helped basically change the farmers’ habit of using a single fertilizer or mixing different kinds of fertilizers into using compound NPK of high contents. The product was widely used in the rice fields in the Cuu Long River delta and was recognized as a scientific achievement by the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development. In 1991, the factory built a self-contained production line of different compound NPK fertilizers, organic fertilizers and fertilizers for major crops that helped improve the productivity and quality of agricultural products and maintain and improve the fertility of the soil.

In 2003, Binh Dien Fertilizer Factory II changed Binh Dien Fertilizer Company under the Vietnam Chemical Corporation (now the Vietnam National Chemical Group). In 2011, the company was equitized into Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company.

In recent years, the company has taken the lead in the research and application of green technology for fertilizer production. These products of green technology, namely yellow grain urea Dau Trau 46A+ and NPK Dau Trau TE+ Agrotain, are the achievements of the cooperation between the company and American scientists. The Agrotain-containing fertilizers help lower the urea amount up to 30%, increase plant productivity and quality and reduces costs of production and bad influence on the environment. Furthermore, the company applied the invention of the US scientists to manufacturing urea Dau Trau 46P+ covered by Avail that increases the effectiveness of phosphate and reduces 30-50% of amount of fertilizer compared to normal DAP fertilizer.

The peat material area of Binh Dien-Lam Dong Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company. Photo: Le Minh An automatic production line. Photo: Le Minh The modern production line recently installed at Binh Dien-Long An Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company has a capacity of 100,000 tonnes/year. Photo: Le Minh The production line at Binh Dien-Lam Dong Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company. Photo: Le Minh Mixing material line. Photo: Le Minh The packing line for NPK products of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company. Photo: Le Minh Dau Trau fertilizer reaches a yield of over 700,000 tonnes/year and occupies 40% of the whole country’s market share. Photo: Le Minh

Over the years, the company has continually expanded its market. After occupying the market in the western region in South Vietnam, the company started penetrating into the markets in the Central region, the central highlands and the north by establishing affiliates, such as Binh Dien Long An Fertilizer Factory, Binh Dien Lam Dong Joint-Stock Company, Binh Dien Me Kong Joint-Stock Company, Binh Dien Quang Tri Joint-Stock Company and Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company- Ninh Binh Branch. These affiliates timely provide products to different provinces nationwide.

Besides the network of agents in the country, the company has made great efforts to carve a niche in foreign markets. After ten years of selling to Cambodia, the company now provides this market about 100,000 tonnes of fertilizers/year. In Laos, a newly-opened market, the amount of consumed fertilizers has gradually increased. The company plans to expand the market to Myanmar in 2013.

To promote the trade mark of Dau Trau fertilizers, the company has devised different measures for marketing. It has published about 35,000 books on agricultural techniques, 70,000 brochures on guiding the use of fertilizers, 4.5 million flyers and 1,200,000 reviews of agricultural promotion, and organized 7,321 workshops and conferences on scientific progress for farmers. The company’s products have made contributions to the programme on implementing the model of large-scale agricultural production.

The company also carried out many great events and programmes, such as “Company and sharing” and “Farmers Show Talents” competition to help needy farmers and students…..

With its outstanding achievements, the company was awarded several prizes including the Labour Medal, 1st class, Excellent Flag and a series of certificates of merit by the State President, Prime Minister, Ministries and branches. Since 2008, the company has been ranked in the list of Vietnam’s 500 largest enterprises in Vietnam.

Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company organizes a course on techniques for farmers. Photo: File Cadres from Binh Dien Company instruct techniques in using Binh Dien fertilizers for farmers in Shwe Bo Township, Sagaing Division, Myanmar. Photo: File Binh Dien products are used in large-scale fields in Long An Province. Photo: Le Minh Binh Dien products help plants reach a high yield. Photo: File  Rice fields in Cambodia reach a high yield using Binh Dien fertilizers. Photo: File

Le Quoc Phong, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Fertilizer Association and General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint-Stock Company said: “Over the years, we have wholeheartedly devoted all our strength to building the powerful brand name of Binh Dien fertilizers. We have invested in research and applying the most advanced technology of the world to manufacturing new, high quality fertilizers, helping increase the plants’ productivity and protect the eco-environment and towards to the direction of sustainable agricultural production.