Fertiliser PSU sale may start with smaller firms

Earlier plan to divest stake in large agrochemical makers faced resistance

- Rhik Kundu & Dhirendra Kumar

NEW DELHI: The central government is considering privatising some small state-owned fertiliser companies, two people aware of the matter said, after an earlier plan to divest stake in larger public sector agrochemical makers faced resistance.

The stake sale process may begin in the first and sector quarters of FY26, depending upon market conditions and the consensus among stakeholders, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

"With recent policy measures reducing the country's dependence on imports, it could be the right time for the Centre to off-load its stake in some state-owned companies, particularly the smaller ones," the first of the two people said.