Archive · 5 Dec 2025
India Seeks Fertiliser Alternatives Amid China Export Curb
India is having trouble getting certain special fertilisers from China.
So, Indian companies are now buying these fertilisers from other countries like Belgium, Egypt, and the United States.
The government says these special fertilisers are not subsidised, and companies can import them based on market needs.
Indian scientists are also working on making their own fertilisers, like nano-fertilisers and bio-fertilisers, to reduce dependence on imports.
This is important for farmers to keep growing crops sustainably.
China used to send a lot of these fertilisers to India, but now India is looking for other suppliers.
India is turning to Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, and the US for specialty fertilisers due to China's export curbs.
Specialty fertilisers are unsubsidised and not covered under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme.
Indian research bodies are developing indigenous alternatives like zinc EDTA, boron blends, nano-fertilisers, and bio-fertilisers.
China supplied 65.65% of India's water-soluble fertiliser imports in 2024-25, down from 59% in 2023-24.
Government initiatives like Soil Test-Based Fertiliser Recommendations and SSNM support sustainable agricultural productivity.
- Who
- Indian government and fertiliser companies
- What
- Seeking alternative suppliers for specialty fertilisers due to China's export curbs
- When
- Ongoing, with recent government updates on December 5, 2025
- Where
- India, with imports from Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, and the United States
- Why
- To bridge the supply gap caused by China's withholding of exports
- Specialty Fertilisers
- Unsubsidised, not covered under NBS scheme
- Alternative Suppliers
- Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, United States
- China's Share in 2024-25
- 65.65% of India's water-soluble fertiliser imports
- Indian Research Bodies
- ICAR, State Agricultural Universities
- Indigenous Alternatives
- Zinc EDTA, boron blends, nano-fertilisers, bio-fertilisers
- Government Initiatives
- Soil Test-Based Fertiliser Recommendations, SSNM
- Fertiliser Control Order
- 1985, includes water-soluble complex fertilisers and mixtures