Media365
India has secured a crucial lifeline for its agricultural sector after 15 ships carrying fertilisers and key raw materials safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over potential supply disruptions triggered by the recent Iran-US conflict. The development comes at a critical juncture as the kharif sowing season gathers pace and farmers across the country prepare for peak fertiliser consumption.
The government on Sunday said the vessels, which had been delayed after tensions in West Asia disrupted shipping through one of the world’s busiest energy and trade corridors, are now on their way to India. Their arrival over the coming days is expected to substantially strengthen fertiliser inventories and reinforce supplies during the ongoing cropping season.
The announcement also signals that India’s contingency planning — combining diplomatic outreach, higher domestic production and coordinated imports — has helped avert what could have become a major challenge for the farm sector.
Hormuz disruption had threatened fertiliser supplies
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s energy and commodity trade passes, became a focal point of concern after military tensions between Iran and the United States disrupted shipping movements in the region.
According to reports, nearly 20 vessels carrying fertilisers and raw materials meant for India had remained stranded on the other side of the strait for several days. With the easing of tensions, 15 of those ships have now crossed the strategic waterway, while five more are awaiting passage.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said the vessels currently headed to India include eight carrying about 3.32 lakh metric tonnes of urea, four carrying 2.57 lakh metric tonnes of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), and three transporting 1.11 lakh metric tonnes of sulphur, a critical raw material used in fertiliser manufacturing.
The remaining shipments are expected to depart in the coming days. One vessel is carrying 25,000 tonnes of ammonia, another is transporting 45,000 tonnes of urea, while two more ships are currently being loaded with urea and another with sulphur.
The arrival of these cargoes is expected to significantly bolster India’s fertiliser stocks at a time when demand traditionally rises with kharif sowing.
Government says supply chain has stabilised
The government also announced that natural gas supplies to domestic fertiliser plants, which had temporarily fallen to around 65 per cent of requirements immediately after the conflict escalated, have now been fully restored.
With gas availability back to normal, all urea manufacturing plants across the country are operating at full capacity, enabling India to reduce its dependence on imports even as it secures overseas shipments.
Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said the conflict in West Asia had severely disrupted global supply chains, resulting in higher fertiliser prices and longer shipping times.
He said Indian missions abroad worked closely with the Department of Fertilisers to establish contact with producers and suppliers across the world, helping secure supplies despite the disruptions. The department, he added, continues to coordinate with state governments to ensure adequate regional availability and transparent distribution of fertilisers.
Nadda said the government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership had ensured that farmers’ interests remained protected despite global uncertainties.
Domestic production has exceeded targets
Alongside imports, domestic production has also provided a buffer against supply disruptions.
Government data showed India produced 2.09 million tonnes of urea in April against a target of 2.03 million tonnes. Output rose further to 2.51 million tonnes in May, exceeding the target of 2.25 million tonnes, and reached 2.53 million tonnes in June against the target of 2.46 million tonnes.
Overall, India produced 7.15 million tonnes of urea during the April-June quarter of FY27, surpassing the government’s target of 6.78 million tonnes by around 3.6 lakh tonnes.
Production of other fertilisers also remained strong. During the first quarter of FY27, India manufactured 0.98 million tonnes of DAP against a target of 0.86 million tonnes, along with 2.07 million tonnes of NPKS fertilisers and 1.35 million tonnes of Single Super Phosphate (SSP).
What it means for farmers
For farmers, the immediate significance is greater certainty over fertiliser availability during one of the busiest agricultural seasons of the year.
The government said fertiliser stocks have reached 197.56 lakh metric tonnes, enough to meet more than 51 per cent of the country’s estimated kharif requirement. Normally, inventories at this stage are around 33 per cent of seasonal demand.
The higher stock levels reduce the risk of regional shortages, help ensure timely availability through state distribution networks and could shield farmers from supply disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions.
The swift restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also eases pressure on fertiliser imports, which remain vital for meeting India’s nutrient requirements, particularly for products such as urea and DAP. With both imports and domestic production running strongly, the government is seeking to reassure farmers that fertiliser supplies will remain adequate despite continued uncertainty in West Asia.
