No need to panic, country has adequate fertilizer stocks for kharif: Union government

Amid concerns about availability of fertilizers for the upcoming kharif season beginning in April after disruptions in trade because of the war on Iran, the Union government has assured fertilizer companies that gas supply to their sector remains a top national priority. The fertilizer department said in a statement here on Friday that that farmers are the priority of the government, and their interests will not be compromised under any circumstances. “Farmers are encouraged to proceed with their kharif preparations without any panic,” the Ministry said amid concerns of 40 to 60% decrease in natural gas supplies, an essential component for fertilizer production, since the last week.

The Department said the numbers tell a clear story of preparedness. “Benefiting from a lean consumption phase and an aggressive advance stocking strategy, the government has built a formidable buffer of all grades of fertilisers,” the Department said adding that there was 36.5% year-on-year surge in overall fertiliser reserves, rising from 129.85 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) on March 6, 2025, to “a commanding 177.31 LMT on Friday. “This formidable buffer is driven by unprecedented increase in critical soil nutrients, most notably Di Ammonium Phosphate stocks (now at 25.13 LMT) and rise in Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPKs) reserves (reaching 55.87 LMT),” the Government release added.

The availability of Urea, the country’s most widely consumed fertiliser, is 59.30 LMT. “This robust, data-backed inventory conclusively demonstrates that the nation is exceptionally well-stocked and fully insulated against any global supply chain shock, as we approach the peak Kharif sowing season. These fertiliser reserves, which are significantly higher than last year, provide a vital operational cushion, ensuring that international logistics bottlenecks do not translate into domestic farm-gate shortages,” the release said.

On import scenario, it said the Government imported 98 LMT of finished fertilisers up to February 2026 and another 17 LMT are already lined up for the next three months. “This is a testimony to the government’s proactive approach in securing the farming community’s interests amidst global turmoil. Furthermore, to insulate the country from regional pricing and supply volatility, Indian companies have secured long-term supply agreements with major international producers for P&K fertilisers,” it added.

On the LNG supply strain, the Department said, a high-level review meeting held and the government assured fertiliser companies that gas supply to their sector remains a top national priority. The current lean period is traditionally when fertiliser companies schedule plant shutdowns for repair and maintenance, the release said adding that the fertiliser companies have now come forward to pre-pone their maintenance scheduled to March to utilise the disruptive time to their advantage. “Multiple global sources are also being tapped for additional imports of finished fertilisers,” the government said.

At present, about 30% of India’s imports of natural gas are routed through the Strait of Hormuz, officials in the government who did not wish to be identified stated on Friday. Further, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), year-to-date in the ongoing financial year, more than 85% of the natural gas consumed for manufacturing fertilisers was imported. Cumulatively, fertilisers manufacturing constituted 29% of the overall natural gas, from imported and domestic sources combined, consumed during the mentioned period.

Concerns over LNG supply primarily emanates from world’s largest LNG producer QatarEnergy calling for a forced majeure after its facilities were targeted by Tehran. However, New Delhi has maintained that it was not looking at any disruptions to its supplies of natural gas. In fact, a source privy of the development informed Friday, that a state-run entity had also purchased spot LNG cargo in recent days.