Urea imports: India advances tenders to secure kharif fertiliser supplies amid West Asia disruption

India has accelerated fertiliser imports to protect supplies for the kharif sowing season. Government sources said the West Asia crisis has affected gas cargoes and sea routes. India has advanced a global tender for urea imports. The move aims to avoid shortages during the next rise in farm demand.

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By mid-February, India had ordered 13.5 lakh tonnes of fertiliser, the sources said. Around 90 per cent of this volume is expected to reach India by end-March. Officials said this timing should help build inventory before demand rises. The government is also tracking how supplies move within states.

India fertiliser stocks and monitoring ahead of kharif season

As of March 13, urea stocks were about 62 lakh tonnes. That was nearly 10 lakh tonnes more than a year earlier. DAP stocks rose to 25 lakh tonnes, almost double. NPK stocks touched 56 lakh tonnes, which officials described as a record high.

Sources said stocks should stay comfortable before peak kharif demand on May 15. The rabi winter season has ended, and April is usually a low demand month. Offtake is expected to rise from May. The outlook depends on a normal monsoon arriving on time.

India fertiliser imports and supply routes amid West Asia crisis

India produces about 30-31 million tonnes of urea each year. Imports of 6-10 million tonnes cover the gap when demand exceeds output. Urea is the most used and most subsidised fertiliser in India. Its production depends heavily on natural gas, which has faced shipping disruptions.

India also brings in phosphatic fertilisers, including Di-Ammonium Phosphate DAP and NPK compounds. A five-year contract with Saudi Arabia for 3 million tonnes of DAP continues. Sources said there was no force majeure on that deal. Supply planning has also considered longer sea routes for some shipments.

Officials said supplies of urea, DAP and NPK from Russia and Morocco were moving without disruption. These shipments are using the Cape of Good Hope route, the sources added. The route has helped keep cargo movement steady despite the regional security situation. Import scheduling has been adjusted to match arrival timelines.

India fertiliser production and natural gas procurement plans

Average domestic urea output is about 25 lakh tonnes each month. March output is expected at 17 lakh tonnes, as plants bring forward annual maintenance. Officials said the change helps manage gas use. The government has assured at least 70 per cent gas supply to fertiliser units, based on six-month averages.

Spot gas purchases have been cleared through EPMC and GAIL, officials said. The first phase of this procurement is set to finish by Tuesday, March 17. Sources said the government is watching market discipline closely. Officials have flagged unusual sales patterns across 652 districts while supplies are being positioned.

With inputs from PTI