India fertiliser stocks remain adequate for Kharif season amid West Asia conflict, MEA says

The government said India is not facing any fertiliser shortage despite the West Asia conflict. Officials said supplies for the coming Kharif season remain secure. Stocks of urea and other nutrients are described as more than adequate. The External Affairs Ministry also said partners are keeping supplies steady.

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External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "All our partners have assured us of uninterrupted supplies and we hope to attain and maintain comfortable fertiliser stocks by the time Kharif demand peaks by May 15,\". Jaiswal spoke at an inter-ministerial media briefing on the West Asia crisis. Officials said the situation is being monitored closely.

Fertiliser stocks and Kharif season readiness

Jaiswal said, \"What I can tell you is that India has more than adequate stocks of fertilisers at this point of time, especially for the upcoming Kharif season, he\". Jaiswal added, \"Our stocks of urea are more than what they were at this point last year, he\". The remarks addressed concerns linked to the conflict.

Jaiswal said India’s DAP stocks are double of what they were in 2025. Jaiswal also said the NPK stock position is much higher than last year. DAP is the most used phosphorus fertiliser. NPK is used across plant growth stages. The government linked these levels to better preparedness.

Urea production and plant maintenance for fertiliser supply

On domestic output, Jaiswal said urea production is expected to exceed nominal consumption. Jaiswal linked this to the Rabi season nearing its end. Jaiswal also said some plants advanced annual maintenance schedules. Officials said this helps maximise production using available gas.

Jaiswal said the Department of Fertilisers issued global tenders early, anticipating disruptions. Jaiswal said, \"These have received a very good response and we expect to receive the bulk of the quantities ordered from a variety of sources byend of March.\" The response was presented as a buffer against uncertainty.

Department of Fertilisers actions on gas and fertiliser procurement

The DoF also decided to procure spot gas through competitive bidding. Jaiswal said, \"The DoF has also decided to procure spot gas on a competitive basis and the first phase purchase will be by Tuesday, he said.\" Officials linked the move to supporting higher plant utilisation. The government said stock building remains a priority.

Jaiswal warned against rumours about shortages. Jaiswal said, \"Observers and commentators would do well to look at the factual situation and not induce panic through uninformed speculation, he said.\" Officials added that the DoF is tracking global and domestic trends. The ministry said steps will continue as demand rises.

With inputs from PTI