Congestion at Indian ports has left several fertiliser-carrying vessels stranded, slowing the unloading and onward movement of these essential crop nutrients during the peak kharif sowing season, according to Business Today.
Context: Kharif Sowing Surge and Fertiliser Demand
The timing of the disruption is particularly critical. Improved rainfall during the first half of July led to a sharp acceleration in kharif sowing. By July 17, the sown area reached nearly 60% of the normal level, compared with 48% on July 10 and 32% on July 5, Business Today reported. Although the acreage remains about 6% below the level recorded a year earlier, the recent improvement strengthened expectations of a recovery after an uneven start to the monsoon season. Any delay in fertiliser dispatch could disrupt distribution, noted a senior executive at a fertiliser company, who told the financial daily: "DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) needs to be applied at the time of sowing."
Affected Ports and Vessel Congestion
Congestion has affected several major ports, including Kandla, Mundra, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) and Chennai, the report stated. Specific vessel data from an industry executive reveals:
| Port | Vessel Cargo | Tonnage | Awaiting Berthing Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandla | DAP/NPK | 60,000 tonnes | July 14 |
| Kandla | Urea | 7,000 tonnes | July 14 |
"We are losing valuable time needed for timely distribution of key fertilisers," said another executive at a large fertiliser company, according to Business Today.
Geopolitical and Logistical Drivers
The situation has been aggravated by several factors. Industry officials told Business Today that the rerouting of vessels due to geopolitical tensions, monsoon-related disruptions, heavy cargo movement in the hinterland, and shortages of trailers have further slowed logistics operations. The supply-chain disruptions were triggered after the outbreak of the Iran war, which severely affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest routes for commodity trade. This waterway is critical for India, as West Asia is the country's largest supplier of fertilisers and essential raw materials such as ammonia and sulphur, making uninterrupted traffic crucial ahead of the kharif cropping season.
The disruption also impacted imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), leading to a slowdown in domestic urea production during March and April, the period when India usually builds fertiliser inventories before the monsoon. To avoid supply shortages, the government arranged additional LNG cargoes and issued three global tenders for urea imports, Business Today reported. Although shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumed briefly after the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire, renewed disruptions have once again created uncertainty over cargo movements.
Shipper and Operator Implications
Industry executives said the delays are being driven by port congestion, a shortage of railway rakes, and broader supply-chain disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis. "We must not allow inland logistics bottlenecks to worsen an already challenging situation," said a third industry executive, as quoted by Business Today. For freight forwarders and logistics managers, the immediate operational impact includes extended vessel waiting times at anchorage, particularly at Kandla, where two vessels have been idled since July 14. Ocean carriers operating on the India–West Asia lane face continued uncertainty due to volatile security conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Urea availability remains adequate for the current kharif season, according to industry executives. However, supplies of DAP continue to be constrained because of limited global availability of ammonia and sulphur. They added that phosphatic fertilisers are likely to remain under pressure until supply chains across West Asia return to normal. For shippers of fertilisers, delays in unloading and inland distribution could disrupt the timely application of DAP during sowing, potentially affecting crop yields.
Watch list: The situation hinges on the security of the Strait of Hormuz, where renewed disruptions have emerged after a brief ceasefire. Monsoon conditions and hinterland logistics capacity, including trailer and rail rake availability, will determine whether the backlog at ports eases in time for the ongoing kharif season. Any further rerouting of vessels or escalation in West Asia could worsen the congestion and fertiliser availability.
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