Massive Surge in Fertilizer Imports from China and Russia

18-May-2026 03:20 PM

New Delhi. Data from the Union Ministry of Commerce reveals that during the financial year 2025-26—compared to 2024-25—India's imports of chemical fertilizers from China surged by over 173 percent, reaching 5.02 million tonnes, driven by the ease of sourcing supplies from that country. Nevertheless, during the period under review, Russia remained India's largest supplier of fertilizers.

According to available data, Russia exported 4.9 million tonnes of fertilizers to India during the financial year 2024-25, a figure that jumped to 6.8 million tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Although fertilizers are produced domestically in India, production falls significantly short of meeting domestic demand and requirements. Consequently, there remains a persistent need for massive annual imports of fertilizers from abroad. In addition to Russia and China, India also imports substantial quantities of fertilizers from numerous other countries across the globe.

India is a leading global importer of fertilizers. During the Kharif and Rabi seasons, various crops are cultivated across vast tracts of land in the country, necessitating large quantities of fertilizers. The sowing of Kharif crops is set to commence next month. Although the cost of importing fertilizers has risen significantly, the government is absorbing this financial burden itself rather than passing it on to the farmers. This is expected to result in a substantial increase in fertilizer subsidies.