India fertiliser security strong as government imports 25 lakh tonne urea for kharif sowing

India said fertiliser supplies were sufficient ahead of the kharif sowing season starting in June. The government also said it was importing an extra 25 lakh tonne of urea. The Department of Fertilizers dismissed market shortage claims. It said stocks were comfortable across the country despite global uncertainties.

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In its statement, the department said, "Indias fertiliser security remains strong, stable, and well-managed\" nationwide. It added that supplies were staying above demand for key fertilisers. India relies on imports to meet domestic needs. It said the country imported more than 100 lakh tonnes of urea in the last fiscal.

India fertiliser security: Current availability versus requirement

The department said early-year stocks exceeded demand during the first 23 days of this financial year. Urea availability stood at 69.33 lakh tonne, against a need of 18.17 lakh tonne. DAP availability was 22.78 lakh tonne, compared with a requirement of 5.90 lakh tonne. The department said this supported a strong start for kharif.

Muriate of Potash availability was 8.32 lakh tonne, against a requirement of 1.73 lakh tonne. NPK availability reached 52.75 lakh tonne, compared with 7.46 lakh tonne needed. SSP availability stood at 25.60 lakh tonne, against a requirement of 3.30 lakh tonne. The department said availability was consistently higher than requirement.

India fertiliser security: Stock comparison with last year

The statement compared mid-April 2026 stocks with the previous year to show planning gains. Urea stocks were 67.37 lakh tonne, versus 68.01 lakh tonne last year. DAP stocks rose to 22.16 lakh tonne from 13.01 lakh tonne. NPK stocks increased to 57.44 lakh tonne from 41.85 lakh tonne.

The department said these changes showed stronger reserves in key nutrient groups. It also said the rise reflected better planning, higher stocking, and improved supply chain management. Sowing of kharif crops begins with the southwest monsoon from June. The department said the opening position was supportive for the season.

India fertiliser security: Kharif 2026 requirement and opening stock

For Kharif 2026, fertiliser requirement was assessed at 390.54 lakh tonne. The statement said around 180 lakh tonne, or 46 per cent, was already available as opening stock. It said this was above the usual pre-season level of about 33 per cent. The department linked this to planning and efficient logistics management.

India fertiliser security: Imports, gas supply, and pricing

On imports, the government said Indian Missions abroad were helping identify alternate supply sources. It also said around 25 lakh tonne of urea was secured through global tendering. Separately, the statement said issues tied to natural gas for domestic urea output were addressed. It added that plants were getting steady gas supplies, with extra LNG/RLNG arranged when needed.

The department noted global prices had climbed sharply, with international urea prices exceeding Rs 4,000 per bag. It said urea was supplied to farmers at Rs 266.5 per 45 kg bag through subsidy support. The statement said states were advised to act against diversion, hoarding, black marketing, and panic mongering to ensure timely and fair distribution.

The Department of Fertilizers said stocks were adequate and management systems were in place across India. It said the government would keep taking steps to support uninterrupted fertiliser availability for farmers. The statement also repeated that the ecosystem remained resilient and well-managed despite international uncertainties and price volatility.

With inputs from PTI