Despite the ongoing West Asia crisis, IFFCO- India’s front running body in the field has confirmed that fertilizer production, particularly urea, remains normal with no disruptions in output schedules. The government and manufacturers indicate that adequate stocks of fertilizers are available to meet demand for the Kharif season, bolstered by proactive procurement and secured supplies.
Fertilizer availability remains stable despite the ongoing crisis in west Asia with production and supply continuing normally according to Satyajit Pradhan, Senior General Manager at Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) Aonla plant in Bareilly. Pradhan said the fertilizer sector has not faced any disruption in gas supply, therefore allowing operations to continue without interruption.
Both our production and marketing activities are continuing in a normal manner, he added.He further noted that fertilizer stocks in the country are adequate and farmers will not face shortages.
Last week ,IFFCO MD K J Patel stated that manufacturing plants are operating normally, and no production cuts have occurred due to liquefied natural gas (LNG) availability.As for the preventive measures, scheduled annual maintenance at certain IFFCO plants was advanced to ensure maximum production efficiency.
The government reported that stocks of Urea and Diammonium phosphate (DAP) are higher than in the previous year, securing the Kharif season demand. Global tenders for fertilizers were placed early to handle potential logistical delays caused by the conflict.
While some reports highlighted potential supply chain threats, major domestic manufacturers confirm that current inventory and production capacity can manage the present situation. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has categorized fertiliser plants under 'Priority Sector-2', ensuring they receive at least 70% of their average natural gas consumption to maintain steady production.
India fast-tracked 13.5 lakh tonnes of urea imports in February, with the bulk expected to arrive by the end of March to bypass potential shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.Pertinently, IFFCO is promoting the adoption of Nano Urea and Nano DAP to reduce dependence on conventional imported raw materials.
While immediate stocks are secure, analysts at Crisil Ratings have noted that a prolonged conflict (exceeding three months) could eventually strain domestic production due to India's 40% reliance on West Asian imports for raw materials like ammonia and LNG.
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