New Delhi : The Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) has released its provisional data for the April–November 2025 period, highlighting a significant structural shift in India's fertiliser supply chain. The data reveals a growing reliance on imports to sustain nutrient availability across the country, particularly as domestic production in certain key segments experienced a slight decline. During this period, urea sales reached 25.40 million tonnes, marking a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was supported by a massive 120.3% surge in urea imports, totaling 7.17 million tonnes, which compensated for a 3.7% dip in domestic production.
In the phosphatic segment, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) sales remained relatively flat at 7.12 million tonnes, down marginally by 1.0%. However, the sector saw a notable increase in import dependency for DAP, which now accounts for 67% of the total nutrient demand, up from 56% last year. Domestic DAP production fell by 5.2% to 2.68 million tonnes, while imports rose by 54.4% to 5.54 million tonnes. Mr. S. Sankarasubramanian, Chairman of FAI, noted that this significant reliance on imports underscores the importance of strategic supply chain management to ensure uninterrupted access for farmers.
The report also highlights a positive trend in balanced nutrient use, with NP and NPK complex fertiliser production surging by 13.8% to 8.15 million tonnes. While sales in this category remained steady, imports nearly doubled to 2.72 million tonnes. Furthermore, indigenous Single Super Phosphate (SSP) demonstrated robust growth, with sales rising by 15.0% to 4.16 million tonnes, reflecting increased farmer confidence in home-grown phosphatic fertilisers. MOP sales also saw an 8.6% increase, reaching 1.55 million tonnes. FAI Director General, Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, emphasized that while the sector is securing critical nutrients through planned imports, it is also successfully strengthening domestic production of indigenous fertilisers like SSP.