Consumption, imports of fertilisers surge; domestic output drops

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT is aiming to cut urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) consumption through introduction of nano-variants, sales and imports of varieties of fertilisers have surged significantly, trade sources said.

- SANDIP DAS

Data for April-December, 2025-26 also indicate a decline in domestic production of fertilisers compared to the same period in the previous fiscal.

In the first three quarters of the current fiscal, domestic production of urea and DAP declined by 3.2% and 3.9% to 22.4 MT and 3 MT, respectively.

Sales of urea due to rise in the demand in kharif as well as rabi season rose by 3.8% to over 31 MT in April-December, FY26 on year.

Urea imports surged 85% to close to 8 MT in the period, while inward shipments of DAP rose 45% at 6 MT in April-December, FY26 on year.

NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertiliser imports rose by 121% during April-December 2025-26 to 3.29 MT.