India secures fertilizer supplies as 15 vessels cross Strait of Hormuz | Today’s news
New Delhi: India has secured its fertilizer supply chain despite disruptions caused by the recent conflict in West Asia, with 15 vessels carrying fertilizers and raw materials safely crossing the Strait of Hormuz and heading to Indian ports, the government said on Sunday.
The shipments include 332,000 tonnes of urea on eight vessels, 257,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate (DAP) on four vessels and 111,000 tonnes of sulfur on three vessels, which would significantly increase the availability of fertilizers in the country ahead of the agricultural season.
The government said five more vessels were due to arrive soon, without specifying a date. One carries 25,000 tons of ammonia, while the other carries 45,000 tons of urea. Urea pipelines are currently underway on two other vessels, with one vessel loaded with sulphur. Their arrival will further boost the country’s fertilizer stock, the government added.
The assurance comes after fears of disruption to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, during the recent conflict. The government said uninterrupted fertilizer supplies were maintained through advance planning, continuous monitoring and diplomatic coordination.
To reduce dependence on traditional suppliers, India expanded its sourcing network during the crisis. According to the Fertilizer Ministry, supply of urea has been secured from Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey and the Netherlands. The import of DAP and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizers was ensured via the Red Sea from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, the USA, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
“The conflict that started in West Asia has seriously disrupted global supply chains. Efforts to import fertilizers through alternative routes have been intensified. Indian missions abroad have actively assisted the Ministry of Fertilizers in establishing contact with potential global manufacturers and suppliers. As a result, our fertilizer imports as well as domestic production are in a very strong position today,” Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda said in a press statement.
The fertilizer department is coordinating with state governments to ensure regional availability and transparent distribution, he said, adding that fertilizers are made available to them in a timely, equitable and affordable manner. “Despite the extremely challenging global circumstances, the government has ensured that the interests of our farmers remain fully protected. Even amid the unprecedented rise in global fertilizer prices, the government has kept farmers’ welfare as its top priority,” he said.
Availability of fertilizer “convenient”
India has secured more than 51% of its annual fertilizer requirement, securing 19.75 million tonnes (mt) of the total estimated requirement of the Ministry of Agriculture of 38.39 mt. Of this, 16.33 mt was already available nationwide as of July 2.
In addition to imports, domestic fertilizer production picked up after natural gas supplies to fertilizer plants were restored from around 65% to 100%, allowing all urea plants to operate at full capacity. India produced 7.15 mt of urea during April-June 2026, surpassing the quarterly target of 6.78 mt by 369,000 tonnes. DAP production also exceeded the target of 861,000 tonnes for the quarter, reaching 984,000 tonnes. Domestic production of other fertilizers remained strong, with NPK output at 2.07 mt and single superphosphate (SSP) production at 1.35 mt during April-June.
According to Nadda, concerted efforts in fertilizer importation, domestic production and adequate storage have ensured satisfactory availability of fertilizers across the country.
