Fertiliser imports spurt in Sept as good rains raise hopes of strong rabi sowing

New Delhi: India has sharply increased fertiliser imports ahead of the rabi (winter) sowing season, buying nearly six times more urea and three times more di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) in September than it did a year ago.

This was on account of an excellent monsoon that led to an increased soil moisture across large parts of the country, raising expectations of a strong rabi crop planting.

According to industry estimates, India imported 1.94 million tonnes of urea and 881,000 tonnes of DAP in September, compared with 312,000 tonnes and 379,000 tonnes, respectively, in the year-ago period.

Imports of complex fertilisers such as nitrogen phosphorus and nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPKs) surged 685% year-on-year to 479,000 tonnes during the month.

"The soil moisture levels are excellent, which means farmers will go in for aggressive rabi planting, especially of wheat, a crop that demands significant urea and phosphate nutrients," said a senior executive at a major fertiliser company, who did not wish to be identified.

While urea consignments have largely been stored at ports, companies have begun distributing DAP across key wheat growing regions since the fertiliser is applied immediately after sowing.

Urea is a nitrogen-rich fertiliser which promotes plant growth and improves crop yields, while DAP is important particularly for early root development and seed germination.

The sharp increase in imports comes after India grappled with a fertiliser crunch last year. Domestic manufacturers were directed by the government not to schedule maintenance shutdowns until the end of the financial year to ensure uninterrupted supply, although officials publicly denied any shortage.

The situation worsened after China temporarily suspended exports of urea and certain other fertilisers, forcing Indian buyers to scout for alternative suppliers in West Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.

This year's abundant rainfall led to robust kharif planting and is expected to boost winter sowing. Increased cultivation of nutrient-intensive crops like maize has further raised fertiliser requirements.

The imported quantity of the bulk fertilisers put together with opening stocks and domestic produce is "more than enough to last the rabi season", according to industry estimates.