Good news for India from Hormuz: 15 ships laden with Urea and DAP are on their way…

New Delhi. Amidst tensions in West Asia and the resulting impact on global supply chains, there is welcome news for India. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has announced that 15 ships carrying fertilizers and raw materials have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The government states that all necessary measures have been taken to safeguard farmers’ interests and ensure the availability of fertilizers across the country.

The Ministry stated that among these 15 vessels, eight are carrying 3.32 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of urea, four are carrying 2.57 LMT of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), and three are carrying 1.11 LMT of sulphur; all are bound for India. The Ministry also noted that five additional ships are scheduled to depart for India.

Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda stated that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely impacted global supply chains, leading to a rise in fertilizer prices and longer shipment times. He mentioned that Indian missions abroad have actively assisted the Department of Fertilizers in connecting with potential global producers and suppliers.

J.P. Nadda said that the Department of Fertilizers is maintaining constant coordination with state governments to ensure regional availability and transparent distribution. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has ensured that the interests of farmers are fully protected. The Ministry also reported that the supply of natural gas to fertilizer plants—which had temporarily dropped by about 65 percent—has now been fully restored to 100 percent. The Ministry further stated that it has built up a stock of 197.56 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizer, which is more than 51 percent of the country’s annual fertilizer requirement of 383.9 LMT. It noted that efforts regarding fertilizer imports and domestic production have ensured adequate availability of fertilizer across the country.