Despite ongoing Middle East disruptions, India’s fertiliser supply remains largely on track, with most shipments crossing the Strait of Hormuz safely and domestic production exceeding targets, according to the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.
Vessel Movements Through Hormuz
The ministry said that out of 20 vessels carrying fertilisers and raw materials for India, 15 have successfully crossed the Strait without disruption. These include:
- 8 vessels carrying 3.32 lakh tonnes of urea
- 4 vessels carrying 2.57 lakh tonnes of DAP
- 3 vessels transporting 1.11 lakh tonnes of sulphur
All are scheduled to reach Indian ports on time. Another five vessels are lined up for shipment, including one carrying 0.25 lakh tonnes of ammonia and another transporting 0.45 lakh tonnes of urea. Loading operations are underway for two more urea vessels and one sulphur vessel. The ministry stated all these consignments are expected to arrive as planned.
Diversified Import Sources
To ensure adequate availability of urea, supplies have been arranged from Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey and the Netherlands. For DAP and NPK fertilisers, cargoes have been secured through the Red Sea route from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, the US, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
Domestic Production Exceeds Targets
The ministry also reported that natural gas supplies to fertiliser plants, which had fallen to nearly 65% during the disruption, have now been fully restored to 100%. All urea manufacturing plants across the country are operating at full capacity.
Domestic fertiliser production exceeded official targets during the first quarter of FY27:
| Fertiliser | Production (lakh tonne) | Target (lakh tonne) | Surplus (lakh tonne) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urea | 71.55 | 67.86 | 3.69 |
| DAP | 9.84 | 8.61 | 1.23 |
| NPK | 20.77 | — | — |
| SSP | 13.50 | — | — |
The ministry said India has already secured 197.56 lakh tonnes of fertiliser against the annual requirement of 383.9 lakh tonnes, covering more than 51% of the country’s yearly demand.
Stock Levels
As of July 2, fertiliser stocks stood at:
- Urea: 69.08 lakh tonnes
- DAP: 16.64 lakh tonnes
- Muriate of Potash: 8.90 lakh tonnes
- NPK: 45.64 lakh tonnes
- SSP: 23.09 lakh tonnes
Total fertiliser availability: 163.35 lakh tonnes.
Government Response
Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers JP Nadda said the crisis had severely disrupted global supply chains, resulting in higher fertiliser prices and longer transit times, with India also feeling the impact. However, he stated that the government had safeguarded farmers’ interests despite the increase in global prices, attributing this to proactive measures taken by the department of fertilisers under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi.
According to the ministry, a combination of diversified imports, higher domestic production and adequate stock levels has ensured satisfactory fertiliser availability across the country. The ministry reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting farmers’ interests by ensuring the timely supply of fertilisers.
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