India has enough fertiliser for now, but West Asia conflict could threaten future supply

India currently has adequate fertiliser stocks , offering reassurance to farmers ahead of the upcoming agricultural cycles. However, officials warn that if tensions in West Asia continue for several months, disruptions in global supply chains could create challenges for the fertiliser sector.

According to Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) , one of India’s major fertiliser producers and the largest supplier to southern states, the country is presently well stocked with key nutrients such as urea. The company’s Managing Director S. Sakthimani said there is no immediate cause for concern as supplies for the coming Kharif cropping season remain secure.

FACT relies on raw materials such as rock phosphate and phosphoric acid , as well as phosphorus and potash , which are key nutrients used in fertilizers to support crop growth. These materials are largely imported from countries in West Asia and the Middle East and transported through international sea routes. Any prolonged geopolitical instability in these regions could disrupt shipments, potentially raising costs for fertilizer manufacturers and affecting supply chains.

“At present, there is sufficient urea available for the Kharif season. We expect the situation to stabilise soon,” Sakthimani said, adding that difficulties may arise only if the conflict continues for six months or longer. In that case, supply challenges could emerge ahead of the next Rabi crop season .

India follows two major agricultural cycles. Kharif crops are sown with the arrival of the monsoon in June and July and harvested around September and October. Rabi crops are planted later in October and November and harvested during April and May. Fertilisers such as urea play a critical role in improving yields during both seasons.

Officials said there are currently no disruptions in the supply of natural gas used in fertilizer production. Besides West Asia, companies also source gas from countries like Australia, helping diversify supply chains.

FACT presently holds around 1.4 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser stock and has enough raw materials to produce an additional 1.5 lakh metric tonnes between March and April 2026 . The company plans to produce about 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers for the 2026 Kharif season by September, along with imports of around one lakh metric tonnes .

Established in 1943, the Kochi based public sector company receives raw materials through global shipments and stores them in large warehouses and tanks before processing.

Officials emphasised that with government support and adequate planning, the fertiliser sector remains prepared to meet farmers’ needs. While the current situation remains stable, they noted that global developments will continue to be closely monitored to ensure uninterrupted supply for India’s agriculture dependent economy.