The Crossbill News Desk
Despite efforts to curb the use of chemical fertilisers, India has sharply increased its dependence on imported urea, with imports surging 40.5% in the April-September period of fiscal year 2026-27 compared with the same period last year, The Economic Times reported.
The rise in imports comes even as demand for fertilisers has weakened amid poor rainfall across several parts of the country. Urea, widely used by Indian farmers because of its low cost, high nitrogen content and easy availability, remains the most consumed fertiliser in the country.
According to industry data cited by the daily, urea imports rose to 5.589 million tonnes in the first six months of FY27, against 3.979 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic sales, however, fell 4.1% to 18.52 million tonnes.
Supply disruptions caused by the conflict in West Asia initially slowed imports, which stood at 583,000 tonnes in April. The volume subsequently climbed to 1.534 million tonnes in July, reflecting a sharp increase in shipments.
The rise in imports coincided with a decline in fertiliser consumption, as inadequate rainfall appears to have discouraged farmers from investing in soil nutrients. An industry executive told The Economic Times that drought-like conditions had been reported in parts of Maharashtra.
Figures released by the Fertiliser Association of India show that domestic urea production grew by 4% during the period. However, other fertiliser categories experienced substantial declines in production, imports and sales.
Production of nitrogen-phosphorus (NP) fertilisers fell 35.5%, while imports of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilisers declined 31.4%. Sales across the NP and NPK categories dropped 22.2%. The increase in sulphur prices amid geopolitical tensions added to supply difficulties.
Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), another major fertiliser used primarily to supply phosphorus to crops, recorded an 11.2% fall in imports, while domestic production declined by 0.3%. Its sales also slipped 0.6% year-on-year.
The downturn extended to other soil nutrients, with sales of muriate of potash (MOP) falling 11.7% and single super phosphate declining 1.4%.
The weakening demand for fertilisers comes in the wake of a deficient monsoon, which plays a critical role in the cultivation of Kharif crops, including rice, pulses, sugarcane and oilseeds. Rainfall between June and September was 13% below normal, with the country receiving only 87% of its long-period average.
Agricultural concerns are mounting further as an El Niño event develops amid rising global temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization has indicated that the phenomenon is expected to strengthen in the coming months. The developing event has been nicknamed “godzilla” in reference to its exceptionally high recorded temperatures.
The sharp increase in urea imports, despite falling domestic sales of several fertilisers, highlights the challenges facing India’s agricultural sector as erratic rainfall, international supply disruptions and fluctuating input costs affect fertiliser availability and demand.
The rise in imports comes even as demand for fertilisers has weakened amid poor rainfall across several parts of the country. Urea, widely used by Indian farmers because of its low cost, high nitrogen content and easy availability, remains the most consumed fertiliser in the country.
According to industry data cited by the daily, urea imports rose to 5.589 million tonnes in the first six months of FY27, against 3.979 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic sales, however, fell 4.1% to 18.52 million tonnes.
Supply disruptions caused by the conflict in West Asia initially slowed imports, which stood at 583,000 tonnes in April. The volume subsequently climbed to 1.534 million tonnes in July, reflecting a sharp increase in shipments.
The rise in imports coincided with a decline in fertiliser consumption, as inadequate rainfall appears to have discouraged farmers from investing in soil nutrients. An industry executive told The Economic Times that drought-like conditions had been reported in parts of Maharashtra.
Figures released by the Fertiliser Association of India show that domestic urea production grew by 4% during the period. However, other fertiliser categories experienced substantial declines in production, imports and sales.
Production of nitrogen-phosphorus (NP) fertilisers fell 35.5%, while imports of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilisers declined 31.4%. Sales across the NP and NPK categories dropped 22.2%. The increase in sulphur prices amid geopolitical tensions added to supply difficulties.
Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), another major fertiliser used primarily to supply phosphorus to crops, recorded an 11.2% fall in imports, while domestic production declined by 0.3%. Its sales also slipped 0.6% year-on-year.
The downturn extended to other soil nutrients, with sales of muriate of potash (MOP) falling 11.7% and single super phosphate declining 1.4%.
The weakening demand for fertilisers comes in the wake of a deficient monsoon, which plays a critical role in the cultivation of Kharif crops, including rice, pulses, sugarcane and oilseeds. Rainfall between June and September was 13% below normal, with the country receiving only 87% of its long-period average.
Agricultural concerns are mounting further as an El Niño event develops amid rising global temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization has indicated that the phenomenon is expected to strengthen in the coming months. The developing event has been nicknamed “godzilla” in reference to its exceptionally high recorded temperatures.
The sharp increase in urea imports, despite falling domestic sales of several fertilisers, highlights the challenges facing India’s agricultural sector as erratic rainfall, international supply disruptions and fluctuating input costs affect fertiliser availability and demand.
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