Talks Underway with Several Countries for Fertilizer Imports

20-Mar-2026 11:54 AM

New Delhi. In light of the crisis in Iran—and with the objective of meeting the requirements of the current Zaid and upcoming Kharif seasons—the Central Government is striving to ensure the adequate supply and availability of fertilizers.

Discussions regarding the import of fertilizers are currently being held with countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Belarus. Indeed, due to the crisis in West Asia and the restrictions imposed on exports by China, India has been compelled to seek alternative sources for fertilizer imports. India ranks among the leading global importers of chemical fertilizers.

Although the Government of India asserts that there are sufficient stocks of fertilizers available within the country to meet the immediate needs of the agricultural sector, emphasis is being placed on increasing imports to avert any potential shortage crisis during the upcoming Kharif season.

It is noteworthy that India imports vast quantities of chemical fertilizers such as Urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), and Muriate of Potash. Additionally, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)—which is essential for the production of Urea—is also imported.

It is pertinent to note that India imports approximately 50 percent of its Urea and DAP requirements from West Asia.

Specifically, the largest volumes of DAP are imported from Saudi Arabia, while the highest volume of Urea is imported from Oman; however, significant difficulties are currently being encountered in importing from these regions, and consequently, efforts to procure these fertilizers from other countries are actively underway.