Page 2 - Fertilizers

Fertiliser industry faces challenge as biostimulant regulations kick in

India's specialty fertilizer industry is grappling with new regulations that have brought biostimulants under government control, with industry body warning that many small manufacturers may face closure due to compliance costs. The February 2025 amendment to the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) has created significant challenges for the biostimulant sector, which operated without regulation for nearly a decade. "The industry is not fully ready to adopt the new regulations. They have to make a lot of investment. Many small SMEs who are operating will be wiped out in the process," Rajib Chakraborty, President of the Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA), told PTI in an interview. The non-subsidized fertilizer segment includes soluble fertilizers, organic fertilizers, micronutrients, and stimulants -- collectively known as SOMS. While the first three categories have long been regulated under the Fertilizer Control Order, stimulants are now being brought under regulatory oversi

China to reimpose fertiliser export curbs, India braces for hike: SFIA

India's specialty fertiliser industry is bracing for renewed supply challenges as China prepares to reimpose export restrictions from October, potentially triggering price hikes that will directly impact farmers, a senior industry official said on Saturday. The temporary resumption of Chinese specialty fertiliser exports has provided short-term relief, but this reprieve will be brief as Beijing plans to tighten export controls through increased inspections and consignment delays from next month. "It's a temporary fix because China is closing the export window from October. They will be closing it for the entire world market, not only for India," Rajiv Chakraborty, President of the Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association, told PTI in an interview. While issues between India and China appear resolved for now, the restriction pattern is expected to resume. "Once they stop the supplies or they start restricting the supplies, they don't stop it completely. They restrict it by imposing ..

Odisha fertiliser crisis: Naveen Patnaik warns of supply gaps, farmer woes

Naveen Patnaik has written to Union Minister JP Nadda warning of urea shortages in Odisha, citing black marketing, inflated prices and farmer protests during the kharif season

India gets relief as China moves to lift curbs on rare earths, fertilisers

The restrictions on three key items were raised by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month

Paradeep Phosphates eyes ₹1,500 cr expansion to double market share by FY26

Fertiliser manufacturer Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) plans to invest over Rs 1,500 crore in capacity expansion over the next three years, targeting sales of 3 million tonnes in FY26 as it seeks to double its market share in India's 20-million tonnes phosphatic fertiliser sector. The Bhubaneswar-headquartered company, which reported nearly Rs 14,000 crore turnover in FY25, aims to increase its market share from 12 per cent to 25 per cent by expanding production capacity from 2.6 million tonnes to 3.7 million tonnes by 2026. "Fertiliser sales have really picked up early this season with robust growth at retail and farmer levels. The water availability across our marketing areas has been quite good," PPL Managing Director and CEO Suresh Krishnan told PTI in an interview. The PPL's expansion strategy centres on the amalgamation of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (MCFL), expected to close in the third quarter of the current financial year. This acquisition will add 7,00,000 ...

Cutting fertiliser subsidy not viable despite green push, says Tharoor

Expressing concern over fertiliser overuse, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that reducing fertiliser subsidies remains "politically unviable" while highlighting how Green Revolution architect Prof M S Swaminathan prioritised natural resource protection. Speaking at the launch of Priyambada Jayakumar's book on Swaminathan, Tharoor emphasised the late agricultural scientist's holistic vision. "His whole concept of economic growth was that it wouldn't simply trickle down but rise up from the soil. The Green Revolution wasn't just about higher-yielding wheat varieties but generating employment, enhancing livelihoods, and empowering the rural poor," he said. Drawing from his parliamentary experience, Tharoor noted the political challenges. "I briefly chaired the committee on chemicals and fertilisers. It was packed with people simply not prepared to contemplate any subsidy reduction... Politically, it won't be viable," he observed. However, DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

Uttar Pradesh faces fertiliser supply shortage amid rising demand

The total stock comprises 918,000 tonnes of urea and 558,000 tonnes of phosphatic soil nutrients such as Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash (NPK)

India's DAP imports from China fall to 97,000 tonnes in July amid new rules

India's import of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) from China has declined sharply and stood at 97,000 tonnes in July this year, Parliament was informed on Friday. DAP is the second most consumed fertiliser after urea in India. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said DAP import from China declined from approximately 22.28 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to about 8.47 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 as reported by fertiliser companies. "In July 2025, approximately 0.97 lakh tonnes of DAP have been imported from China," the minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers, including DAP, are under Open General License (OGL). The fertiliser companies are free to import/manufacture these fertilisers as per their business dynamics. Citing reasons for the decline in DAP import, the minister said in October 2021, China amended its catalogue of commodities requiring mandatory additional inspection prior to export of fertiliser-related ...

Three new nano fertiliser plants to be set up by PSUs, firms: Govt

The government on Tuesday said three more nano fertiliser plants will be set up with a total production capacity of 17 crore bottles per annum by private and public fertiliser companies. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel, in her written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said the government is not directly involved in setting up of nano fertiliser plants across the country. Overall seven nano-urea plants have been set up by fertiliser companies with a total production capacity of all these nano-urea plants presently in operation at 27.22 crore bottles (500 ml each) per annum. Further, three nano DAP (Di Ammonium Phosphate) plants have been set up by fertilizer companies with a total production capacity of all these nano DAP plants presently in operation at 7.64 crore bottles (500 ml each) per annum. In addition to this, "PSUs and other fertilizer companies have intimated about setting up of 3 more nano fertilizer plants, with a total production capacity of 17 cr

Paradeep, Punjab Chem at 52-week high; what's driving agri stocks today?

Shares of agriculture-related companies were in demand on Tuesday on hopes that a normal monsoon could drive healthy demand for agro-chemicals.

BJP urges K'taka govt to act against firms selling fake seeds, fertilisers

Accusing the ruling Congress of 'failing' Karnataka, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Sunday urged the Siddaramaiah-led government to file a criminal case and take strict action against companies that are supplying fake seeds and fertilisers to farmers. He said a police vigilance team should be formed to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers. The BJP chief was responding to reports about fake seeds and fertilisers being supplied to farmers in some parts of the state. "The efforts to trouble the food-providing farmers and exploit them within the system have been ongoing for a long time. Companies supplying fertilizers and seeds are engaging in the despicable act of sabotaging agricultural activities by providing fake seeds to the enthusiastic farming community that are expecting a good harvest in the backdrop of a promising monsoon this time," Vijayendra said. "I urge the government to file a criminal case against such companies in this regard and take stri

West Bengal leads with 3,127 cases of spurious fertilisers in 5 years

Recent data reveals that West Bengal recorded the highest number of spurious fertiliser cases, followed by Haryana, Odisha, and Punjab, as the government vows strict action

FPI-favoured smallcap soars 115% in 4 months, hits record high; do you own?

Shares of Paradeep Phosphates hit a new high of ₹205, surging 8 per cent on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day trade amid heavy volumes

Govt imports nearly 1 million tonnes of DAP in Apr-Jun, shows Govt data

India has imported 9.74 lakh tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) during the April-June quarter to meet domestic demand, the government said on Tuesday. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel shared the data of DAP imports for the current year, as reported by the companies. As per the data, India imported 2.89 lakh tonnes of DAP in April, 2.36 lakh tonnes in May and 4.49 lakh tonnes in June. Imports of DAP, a key fertiliser, stood at 45.69 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 fiscal, 55.67 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, 65.83 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, 54.62 lakh tonnes in 2021-22, and 48.82 lakh tonnes during 2020-21. "The government is ensuring adequate availability of fertilizers to meet the Kharif 2025 requirement...The requirement for chemical fertilizers during the 2025 Kharif season (is) marginally higher than that of the previous year, owing to expanded sowing coverage and favourable monsoon conditions," Patel said. From April 2010, the

Resilient supply chains needed for agri sector, says Piyush Goyal

While the minister did not refer to any country, the statement came at a time when China has reduced exports of a critical fertiliser - di-ammonium phosphate - creating a global supply squeeze

Govt not helping farmers struggling with shortage of fertilisers: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of not taking any steps to help the farmers who are "struggling with shortage of essential fertilizers" like DAP and urea as China has "stopped the supply" of speciality fertilizers imported from there. Gandhi said on the one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is printing his photos on fertilizer bags, and on the other hand, farmers are becoming dependent on 'Made in China'. "India is an agriculture state and farmers are the backbone of our economy. But, this backbone is bending due to foreign dependency. India imports 80 percent of specialty fertilizer from China. And now, China has stopped supply," he said in a post in Hindi on Facebook. "This is not the first time - farmers across the country are struggling with the shortage of essential fertilizers like urea and DAP and now the 'Chinese crisis' of specialty fertilizer is looming," Gandhi wrote. "Despite knowing that this supply can stop anytime, the government did

Will take up fertiliser export curbs by China as required, says MEA

India before the curbs used to import around 1-2 million tonnes of urea from China out of the total imports of around 6-7 million tonnes

Chinese squeeze drives up DAP fertiliser prices, spurs West Asia reliance

It's the second-most-consumed fertiliser in India after urea but a significant portion is imported

After magnets, China halts speciality fertiliser shipments to India

China has reportedly stopped inspecting fertiliser shipments to India, effectively halting exports without an official ban as India relies heavily on Chinese supply

Nano fertilisers see a jump in sales, but questions around efficacy remain

While Iffco has seen an increase in the sale of both nano urea and nano DAP, some industry players say that despite its intrinsic benefits, nano has still not caught the imagination of some farmers