FAI data for April–December 2025 highlights coordinated production and imports across fertiliser nutrients

India’s fertiliser sector demonstrated coordinated supply planning during the Rabi season, ensuring steady nutrient availability through a calibrated mix of domestic production and imports, according to provisional data released by the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) for the period April–December 2025.

Covering major fertilisers including urea, DAP, MOP, complex fertilisers (NP/NPK), and Single Super Phosphate (SSP), the data reflects how supply strategies were aligned to support crop nutrition requirements across the fertiliser year to date, even as offtake patterns varied across nutrients.

During the period, urea sales increased 3.8 per cent year-on-year to 31.16 million tonnes, supported by domestic production of 22.44 million tonnes and a sharp 85.3 per cent rise in imports to 8.00 million tonnes. The higher import volumes helped supplement domestic output, reinforcing availability during peak nutrient demand months of the Rabi season.

Sales of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) moderated to 8.00 million tonnes, compared to 8.33 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Domestic DAP production declined 3.9 per cent to 3.03 million tonnes, while imports rose 45.7 per cent to 5.95 million tonnes, ensuring continued access to phosphatic nutrients despite softer offtake.

Complex fertilisers showed a marked strengthening in availability. Production of NP and NPK fertilisers (excluding DAP) rose 13.1 per cent year-on-year to 9.27 million tonnes, while imports more than doubled, increasing 121.8 per cent to 3.29 million tonnes. Sales remained broadly stable at 11.74 million tonnes, indicating deliberate efforts to expand nutrient options and support balanced fertilisation rather than responding solely to short-term demand shifts.

Single Super Phosphate (SSP) continued to play an important role in indigenous phosphatic supply. SSP production increased 10.3 per cent to 4.43 million tonnes, while sales rose 13.1 per cent to 4.71 million tonnes, reflecting growing utilisation of domestically produced phosphatic fertilisers as part of a diversified nutrient basket.

FAI Fertiliser Data: April–December 2025 vs April–December 2024

For muriate of potash (MOP), imports during April–December 2025 stood at 2.14 million tonnes, lower than the previous year, while sales increased 5.3 per cent to 1.77 million tonnes, supporting potassic nutrient availability across cropping requirements.

“The April–December 2025 data shows how the fertiliser sector has worked to keep nutrients available through a balance of domestic production and calibrated imports,” said S. Sankarasubramanian, Chairman, FAI. “Maintaining stable supply across nutrients during the fertiliser year, including the Rabi season, is central to ensuring that farmers have timely access to key fertilisers when they need them.”

Commenting on the broader nutrient mix, Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Director General, FAI, noted that the data reflects a gradual shift towards more balanced fertilisation practices. While nitrogen continues to account for a significant share of fertiliser use, steady utilisation of phosphatic, potassic, and complex fertilisers indicates increasing alignment between nutrient application, crop requirements, and soil conditions.

He added that this evolution underscores the importance of sustained focus on balanced nutrient management to support long-term agricultural productivity and soil health.

As fertiliser planning continues through the remainder of the Rabi season, FAI reiterated that coordinated production planning, calibrated imports, and strengthening of indigenous nutrient options remain central to ensuring efficient fertiliser use. The Association said it will continue engaging with stakeholders across the value chain to promote evidence-based nutrient management practices that enhance soil health, improve nutrient use efficiency, and support sustainable agricultural growth.