Can India avoid a fertiliser shortage this Kharif? Govt says stocks strong, urea output up 23%

The government on Thursday said it has ramped up natural gas supplies to urea plants by 23% and diversified fertiliser imports to ensure adequate availability for the Kharif 2026 season, insulating farmers from global supply disruptions amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said it has executed a multi-pronged strategy combining higher domestic production and advanced global procurement to stabilise supplies.

The government has concluded bidding under the Empowered Pool Management Committee (EPMC) to secure additional natural gas.

This is expected to boost domestic urea production by nearly 23% to about 67,000 metric tonnes per day from 54,500 MT/day.

Gas availability for plants has also improved to 76% of their average requirement from 62% earlier.

The government said fertiliser stocks are currently at comfortable levels compared to last year.

As of March 19, urea stocks stood at 61.14 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), higher than 55.22 LMT a year ago.

India also imports phosphatic fertilisers, including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and NPK compounds.

Supplies of urea, DAP and NPK from Russia and Morocco are reportedly flowing uninterrupted via the Cape of Good Hope route.

Stocks of DAP more than doubled to 24.24 LMT from 11.85 LMT, while NPK stocks rose to 57.21 LMT from 34.44 LMT.

Single Super Phosphate (SSP) stocks also increased to 24.80 LMT from 23.15 LMT.

However, Muriate of Potassium (MOP), or potash, stocks dipped to 12.65 LMT from 14.13 LMT.

"Regarding our fertilizer situation at this point in time, especially for Kharif 2026, we have adequate stocks; we are comfortable,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at an inter-ministerial press briefing.

“The Department of Fertilizers has also put out global tenders well in advance in anticipation of the current situation, and these have received very good responses. We expect the bulk of the quantities ordered from a variety of sources to arrive by the end of March,” he added.

With the Rabi Winter season concluded and April typically a lean demand month, fertiliser offtake is expected to pick up from May, subject to a normal and timely monsoon.

The ministry said that advance contracting and sustained diplomatic engagement with multiple supplier nations have ensured that most imported fertiliser consignments will reach Indian warehouses by the end of March, ahead of the sowing season.