India's imports of urea from China have soared to their highest level in three years during the current fiscal year, while fertiliser shipments from Russia have also experienced a significant increase, according to official government data presented in Parliament on Friday.
Sharp Rise in Urea Imports from China
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fertilisers Anupriya Patel disclosed that India imported 21.24 lakh tonnes of urea from China between April 2025 and February 2026. This figure marks a substantial jump from the 0.99 lakh tonnes imported in the entire fiscal year 2024-25. It also surpasses previous years, exceeding imports of 18.65 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 and 12.80 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
Comprehensive Fertiliser Imports from China
Beyond urea, India's imports from China during this period included 5.11 lakh tonnes of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), 0.28 lakh tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MoP), and 9.61 lakh tonnes of NPK fertilisers. This brings the total phosphatic and potassic fertiliser shipments from China to approximately 15 lakh tonnes, highlighting a diversified dependency on Chinese agricultural inputs.
Increased Russian Fertiliser Supplies
Urea supplies from Russia have also risen notably, with imports reaching 13.99 lakh tonnes by February, already higher than the 9.23 lakh tonnes recorded in 2024-25. Additionally, India imported 7.55 lakh tonnes of DAP, 12.97 lakh tonnes of MoP, and 21 lakh tonnes of NPK fertilisers from Russia during the current fiscal, indicating a robust trade relationship in the fertiliser sector.
Total Imports and Domestic Availability
Combined, urea imports from China and Russia stood at about 35.23 lakh tonnes till February. In comparison, overall urea imports from other countries were at 56.47 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. On the domestic front, Minister Patel reported that around 432.44 lakh tonnes of urea is currently available in the country against an estimated requirement of 370.84 lakh tonnes. Sales through the direct benefit transfer system have reached 381.59 lakh tonnes so far this year, ensuring efficient distribution to farmers.
Regulatory Framework for Fertiliser Imports
Phosphatic and potassic fertilisers operate under the Open General Licence regime, which permits companies to import or manufacture them based on their commercial assessments. This regulatory flexibility allows for market-driven decisions in sourcing these critical agricultural inputs, contributing to the observed import trends from key global suppliers like China and Russia.
