Business · Energy & Commodities · 7 hrs ago
India has ample fertilizer stocks for winter sowing despite local shortages
India has ample fertilizer stocks as farmers sow rabi, or winter, crops.
On 3 November, 21.5 million tonnes were available, compared with 8.7 million tonnes needed by that point in the season.
Farmers had taken 5.3 million tonnes, leaving 16.2 million tonnes in stock.
Stocks exceed early requirements for all four main fertilizer categories: urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS.
Even with healthy national supplies, some areas report shortages of sulphur and phosphorus fertilizers.
Winter crop sowing is 3.15 million hectares behind last year's pace, while government fertilizer subsidy spending has passed ₹2.17 trillion.
Officials and industry representatives say distribution needs continued monitoring as demand rises in the coming weeks.
India had 21.5 million tonnes of fertilizer available for the 2026-27 winter sowing season as of 3 November, against 8.7 million tonnes required by that date.
Farmers had taken 5.3 million tonnes, leaving 16.2 million tonnes in stock.
Stocks exceeded the pro-rata requirement for urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS.
Some areas were nevertheless reporting shortages of sulphur- and phosphorus-based fertilizers.
Winter crop sowing was 3.15 million hectares behind last year's pace.
- Who
- Indian farmers and the Department of Fertilizers. The stock figures were cited by people familiar with them.
- What
- Fertilizer stocks were reported to be ample for winter sowing, despite local shortages of some inputs.
- When
- The stock assessment was as of 3 November 2026. The report was published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Fertilizer is needed for the rabi, or winter, crop season. The sources do not state why some local shortages occurred.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India had 21.5 million tonnes of fertilizer available, compared with a pro-rata requirement of 8.7 million tonnes.
Mint published its report on fertilizer stocks for the rabi season.
- Available fertilizer
- 21.5 million tonnes as of 3 November
- Requirement by 3 November
- 8.7 million tonnes
- Farmers' fertilizer uptake
- 5.3 million tonnes
- Remaining stock
- 16.2 million tonnes
- Total rabi-season requirement
- 35 million tonnes
What people are saying
The overall fertilizer availability remains adequate to meet the needs of the ongoing rabi season
Urea, the most widely consumed fertilizer in Indian agriculture, has a seasonal requirement of 19.9mt for Rabi 2026-27. Against the pro-rata requirement of 4.25mt, availability stands at 10.75mt
MOP stocks have also remained above the calculated requirement. Against a seasonal requirement of 1.64mt, the pro-rata requirement was 370,000mt, while availability stood at 1.3mt