India's Fertiliser Import Costs Surge Amid Global Conflicts
Amid Iran war squeeze, unraveling the real cost of India’s fertiliser imports

Image: The Indian Express
In 2025-26, India's fertiliser imports reached $27.2 billion, significantly higher than previous years, driven by global conflicts affecting prices. The country relies heavily on imported raw materials, with the fertiliser sector consuming 47.2% of its regasified LNG. Future costs may escalate further due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- 01India imported 28.2 million tonnes of fertilisers in 2025-26, costing $14.5 billion, the highest since 2022-23.
- 02The fertiliser sector's LNG imports alone were valued at $6.3 billion, highlighting its dependence on foreign energy sources.
- 03In 2025-26, India also imported 2.2 million tonnes of phosphoric acid valued at $2.7 billion and 11.1 million tonnes of rock phosphate for $1.9 billion.
- 04Current global fertiliser prices have surged due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, with urea and DAP prices rising significantly compared to last year.
- 05State governments have restricted the sale of non-subsidised fertilisers, impacting the availability of specialty nutrients crucial for high-value crops.
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India's fertiliser imports for the fiscal year 2025-26 reached 28.2 million tonnes, costing over $14.5 billion. This figure marks a significant increase from the previous year's $8.2 billion, driven by rising global prices influenced by geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The total fertiliser import bill, including raw materials and intermediate chemicals, amounted to a staggering $27.2 billion, second only to the record $33.4 billion in 2022-23. The fertiliser sector's reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) accounted for approximately 47.2% of its consumption, with LNG imports valued at around $6.3 billion. Additionally, the prices of imported fertilisers have surged, with urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) prices significantly higher than last year. Compounding the issue, several Indian states have imposed bans on the sale of non-subsidised fertilisers, which could limit the availability of premium nutrient products essential for high-value agriculture. This situation raises concerns about the future of India's fertiliser supply amidst escalating import costs and regulatory challenges.
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The rising costs of fertiliser imports will likely increase domestic prices, affecting farmers and agricultural productivity.
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