Facebook
X
IndiAgri Bureau
New Delhi: India has strengthened its fertilizer supply position despite disruptions caused by the recent conflict in West Asia, with the government confirming that 15 vessels carrying fertilizers and key raw materials have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are reaching Indian ports on schedule.
The fresh arrivals are expected to significantly improve fertilizer availability ahead of the upcoming agricultural seasons, while higher domestic production has further reinforced the country's supply chain.
According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the vessels currently en route include:
In addition, five more vessels are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. These include shipments of ammonia, urea and sulphur, with loading already underway for several consignments.
The government said advance planning, close coordination and continuous monitoring ensured fertilizer imports remained largely unaffected despite shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
To reduce dependence on traditional suppliers during the crisis, India sourced fertilizers and raw materials from a wider network of countries.
For urea, supplies have been arranged from Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Türkiye and the Netherlands.
DAP and NPK fertilizers are being imported through the Red Sea route from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, the United States, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
The government said 28 Indian diplomatic missions played an important role by identifying new suppliers and facilitating timely procurement.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers J.P. Nadda said the conflict in West Asia disrupted global fertilizer supply chains, increased prices and extended shipping timelines. However, he said India remained prepared through early planning and coordinated action under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
According to Nadda, the government intensified imports through alternative sources, expanded international supplier networks and maintained continuous coordination with state governments to ensure fertilizers remained available across regions.
He added that despite volatility in international markets, the government has ensured fertilizers continue to reach farmers in a timely, equitable and affordable manner.
The ministry also attributed higher domestic production to the restoration of 100% natural gas supply to fertilizer plants, allowing all urea manufacturing units to operate at full capacity.
India's urea production exceeded monthly targets during the first quarter of FY 2026-27:
| Month | Target (LMT) | Actual Production (LMT) |
|---|---|---|
| April | 20.34 | 20.98 |
| May | 22.55 | 25.19 |
| June | 24.96 | 25.37 |
During April-June 2026, total urea production reached 71.55 LMT, surpassing the quarterly target of 67.86 LMT by 3.69 LMT.
DAP production also remained strong during the first quarter.
| Month | Target (LMT) | Actual Production (LMT) |
| April | 2.68 | 3.03 |
| May | 3.01 | 3.93 |
| June | 2.92 | 2.88 |
Overall, India produced 9.84 LMT of DAP during April-June against the target of 8.61 LMT, exceeding the goal by 1.23 LMT.
Production of other fertilizers during the same period included:
As of July 2, 2026, fertilizer availability across the country stood at:
| Fertilizer | Stock (LMT) |
| Urea | 69.08 |
| DAP | 16.64 |
| MOP | 8.90 |
| NPK | 45.64 |
| SSP | 23.09 |
| Total | 163.35 |
The ministry said that against the country's estimated annual fertilizer requirement of 383.9 LMT, supplies of around 197.56 LMT have already been secured through imports and domestic production, covering more than 51% of the annual requirement.
With international supplies continuing to arrive, domestic fertilizer plants operating at full capacity and additional cargoes scheduled to reach Indian ports, the government expects fertilizer availability to remain adequate for the upcoming kharif and subsequent cropping seasons.
Officials said they will continue monitoring global supply chains and take further measures, if required, to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer availability for farmers across the country.
