India’s import dependence is still more in phosphatic and potassic fertilisers, including their raw materials and intermediates such as rock phosphate, sulphur, ammonia and phosphoric acid. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries had already led to a key global sulphur supplier banning exports and driving up world prices. And with the war in Iran (which is itself a leading exporter of urea and ammonia) disrupting gas shipments, things cannot get worse. India has also had problems from China, which, until 2023-24, was its largest supplier of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). Policymakers need to find ways to manage and mitigate both, which calls for a strategic, as opposed to firefighting, approach.

Source: Indian Express March 04, 2026 08:17 UTC