India fertiliser imports are increasingly shifting beyond West Asia as the government explores alternative suppliers to secure supplies before the crucial kharif planting season. Rising geopolitical tensions and risks to key maritime shipping routes have prompted New Delhi to diversify fertiliser sourcing, with countries such as Russia, China, Indonesia, Morocco and Belarus emerging as key options.
The move comes as the government seeks to secure adequate fertiliser supplies ahead of the kharif cropping season, which begins in June and is crucial for India’s vast agricultural sector.
India Exploring Fertiliser Imports From New Countries
Officials involved in the discussions said India is looking to increase fertiliser imports from alternative suppliers including Indonesia, Belarus, Morocco, Russia, and China. The strategy aims to reduce dependence on West Asian countries, which currently dominate India’s fertiliser import market.
India remains the world’s largest importer of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP), making stable supply chains essential for the country’s farming community.
According to officials cited in the report, Russia and China have already become major suppliers of urea during the current financial year, and shipments from both countries are expected to grow further as India hedges against possible disruptions.
Strait of Hormuz Risks Raise Supply Concerns
Industry experts say the biggest concern lies in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which nearly 70% of India’s urea imports pass. Any disruption in this region could significantly affect fertiliser availability and prices in India.
The Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) said the industry is coordinating closely with both central and state governments to ensure adequate fertiliser supply before the peak agricultural season.
Authorities are currently managing production planning, imports, and logistics to maintain sufficient fertiliser availability for farmers.
India Already Diversifying Phosphatic Fertiliser Supply
In the phosphatic fertiliser segment, India has already diversified sourcing through long-term supply agreements with countries such as Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Belarus. This diversification helps mitigate supply risks from any single region.
However, domestic production challenges have increased India’s reliance on imports.
Domestic Urea Production Falls Amid Gas Allocation Changes
The fertiliser industry accounts for roughly 30% of India’s natural gas consumption, but domestic production has been affected by government policies prioritizing natural gas supply to city gas distribution networks.
Data cited in the report shows that domestic urea production declined by 3.2% in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
While the government directly handles urea imports, private companies are permitted to import other fertilisers independently.
Experts Suggest Expanding LNG Imports
Sachchida Nand, visiting professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), suggested India could further strengthen supply security by importing more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from countries such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and Russia.
Natural gas is a key raw material for urea production.
He also noted that India could source phosphoric acid and rock phosphate from countries including Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt to ensure stable fertiliser production.
India’s Heavy Dependence on West Asia
Data from the previous financial year highlights India’s strong dependence on West Asian fertiliser suppliers.
Out of 5.64 million tonnes of urea imports, nearly 70% came from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, with Oman emerging as the largest supplier.
In the DAP market, the reliance is even higher. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for 41% of India’s 4.57 million tonnes of imports.
For a country that is the world’s second-largest fertiliser consumer, such geographic concentration is considered a strategic vulnerability.
Fertiliser Imports Surge as Demand Grows
India’s fertiliser imports have surged sharply in recent months.
Between April and December, urea imports jumped 85% to 8 million tonnes, while DAP imports increased by nearly 46%, according to the report.
Russia and China have emerged as key beneficiaries of this shift in import strategy.
Indonesia Fertiliser Exports to India Rise Sharply
Indonesia has also seen a sharp increase in fertiliser exports to India.
According to the Indonesian embassy, exports rose from $10.9 million in 2024 to $342.8 million in 2025, including products such as urea, ammonia, and NPK fertilisers.
Government Says Fertiliser Stocks Comfortable
Despite the supply concerns, the Indian government maintains that fertiliser stocks remain strong.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that DAP stocks are currently double last year’s levels, while NPK fertiliser stocks are also significantly higher.
He added that India expects to maintain comfortable fertiliser inventory levels before kharif demand peaks around May 15.
However, the situation remains complex as global tensions and shipping disruptions continue to impact energy and fertiliser supply chains.
