Fertilizer position in India

Fertilizer position in India

Subject: Agriculture

Section: Fertilizer

Context: Fertilizer availability is in a comfortable position

Concept:

As India’s dependence on imported fertilisers is quite high and muriate of potash (MOP) is a nutrient that is fully imported, high global prices will have a direct impact. As of now, fertilizer availability is in a comfortable position.

However, the ongoing geopolitical tension scans have an adverse impact on fertiliser availability as India is highly dependent on Russia and Belarus for fertiliser / raw material Imports.

Russia and Belarus are the world’s No.2 and No.3 producers of MOP fertiliser, at 13.8 mt and 12.2 mt in2020, respectively. Out of the total 5.09 mt that was imported in India in 2020-21, nearly a third came from Belarus (0.92 mt) and Russia (0.71 mt). International prices of other fertilisers (urea, di-ammonium phosphate and complexes) and their raw materials / intermediates, have also gone up sharply in recent weeks.