Four Fertilizer Ships Cross Strait of Hormuz, Strengthening India’s Kharif Supply

Ø Strategic Maritime Transits via Strait of Hormuz Secure Vital Urea, DAP, and Sulphur Shipments for Kharif 2026

Ø Fertilizer Supply Lines Strengthened as Key Vessel Transits via Strait of Hormuz Reach Indian Ports

· Four ships carrying Urea, DAP, and Sulphur successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are heading to Krishnapatnam Port, Kakinada Port, Paradip Port, and Mundra Port.

· The shipments will boost fertilizer availability for the Kharif 2026 agricultural season.

· India's total fertilizer stock reached 196.08 lakh tonnes as of 22 June 2026, up from 168.67 lakh tonnes a year ago.

· Current stocks include:

o Urea: 81.44 lakh tonnes

o DAP: 20.92 lakh tonnes

o NPK: 55.91 lakh tonnes

o MOP: 12.68 lakh tonnes

o SSP: 25.13 lakh tonnes

· Fertilizer sales from March–June 2026 rose to 153.4 lakh tonnes, up 13.2 lakh tonnes from last year.

· Domestic fertilizer production increased to 133.12 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) after the crisis.

· Fertilizer imports during the same period totaled 43.69 LMT, ensuring supply stability.

· India secured 17.70 LMT of Urea through the latest global tender.

· More than 90 LMT of Urea and P&K fertilizers have been contracted for the ongoing Kharif season.

· Fertilizer imports have been sourced from multiple countries, including Oman, Russia, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United States.

· The government coordinated with 28 Indian Missions abroad to diversify fertilizer supply routes and ensure uninterrupted availability for farmers.

· The Department of Fertilizers continues to work with states and distributors to maintain a stable national fertilizer supply.

[ABS News Service/23.06.2026]

In a significant advancement for India's fertilizers security, four cargo ships carrying vital shipments of Urea, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), and Sulphur successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz last week. Navigating through ongoing global trade challenges, these vessels are currently heading toward their designated destination ports across the country—namely Krishnapatnam, Kakinada, Paradeep, and Mundra. Upon arrival, these fresh imports will immediately offload to supplement the nation's existing fertilizer buffers and secure ongoing agricultural requirements.

Comfortable Inventory Buffers

India’s cumulative fertilizer stock position as of June 22, 2026, stands at a robust 196.08 Lakh Tons, marking a healthy increase from the 168.67 Lakh Tons recorded during the corresponding period last year. This strong inventory backup consists of:

· Urea: 81.44 Lakh Tons (up from 69.21 Lakh Tons last year)

· DAP: 20.92 Lakh Tons (up from 16.0 Lakh Tons last year)

· NPKs: 55.91 Lakh Tons (up from 46.13 Lakh Tons last year)

· MOP: 12.68 Lakh Tons (up from 10.68 Lakh Tons last year)

· SSP: 25.13 Lakh Tons (26.65 Lakh Tons last year)

Reflecting high agricultural momentum, total fertilizer sales post-crisis (from March 1, 2026, to June 21, 2026) reached 153.4 Lakh Tons, visualising a growth of 13.2 Lakh Tons compared to last year's sales of 140.2 Lakh Tons over the same duration. This includes 79.1 Lakh Tons of Urea, 34.8 Lakh Tons of NPKs, and 19.8 Lakh Tons of DAP (including TSP).

Domestic Manufacturing Support

To protect Indian farmers against unpredictable global market shocks, the government maximized indigenous manufacturing capabilities alongside targeted import arrivals. Post-crisis domestic production scaled up significantly to achieve an impressive 133.12 LMT. This strong domestic foundation has been closely matched by total import arrivals hitting 43.69 LMT at Indian ports during this period, striking an ideal balance between localized output and international sourcing.

Global Tender Milestone

India has successfully contracted 17.70 LMT of Urea in its latest global tender evaluation. With this latest addition, India has safely tied up more than 90 LMT of Urea and P&K fertilizers from the global market specifically tailored for the ongoing Kharif season.

This macro-scale procurement strategy was facilitated through active diplomatic coordination with 28 Indian Missions abroad, opening up diverse import pipelines across multiple international corridors:

· Urea Streams: Successfully locked in from Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, and the Netherlands.

· DAP/NPK Streams: Secured via the Red Sea shipping route from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, USA, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia.

The Department of Fertilizers continues to work closely with state governments, distribution agencies and cooperative networks to ensure India’s fertiliser security remains strong, stable, and well managed.