New Delhi: India is boosting fertilizer imports from countries including Canada and Israel to ensure adequate supplies for the coming summer sowing season following disruption in shipments due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
India is a major importer of fertilizers For its vast agricultural sector, which employs about 60% of the country’s workforce and accounts for 15% of the $2.7 trillion economy.
“This time we have made advance preparations for the kharif (summer sown crop) season. We need about 30 million tonnes of fertilizer and have arrangements in place,” Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Reuters.
India would have a comfortable starting stock of about a quarter of the total quantity of fertilizers needed for the summer season, he said.
With the onset of monsoon rains in June, farmers usually start sowing crops including rice, cotton and soybeans.
To fertilize crops, India depends on its entire annual consumption of 4 million to 5 million tons of potash and ships imports, of which a third comes from Belarus and Russia.
Landlocked Belarus uses ports in Russia and Lithuania for its exports.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shipping routes have been closed and Western sanctions on Moscow described its operations in Ukraine as a “special military operation”, making trade with Russian and Belarusian companies difficult. has gone. read more
Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has increased imports from Canada, Israel and Jordan.
Multiple sources said it would buy 1.2 million tonnes of potash from Canada, 600,000 tonnes from Israel and 300,000 tonnes from Jordan in 2022 to partially replace supplies from Russia and Belarus.
A senior industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the IPL is trying to ensure that “enough shipments” arrive before June to prevent any shortfall during the sowing season. .
India was close to signing a three-year deal fertilizer import Mandaviya plans to strike a deal with Russia during his visit to Moscow this month. The visit was postponed following the invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February. Read more
One of the sources said that India may try again to sign the deal “when the situation improves”.
Traditionally, India has used prices in deals with Belarus and Russia as a benchmark for supplies from other countries. Sources said Canada has emerged as a price setter for 2022.
IPL is procuring potash from companies in Canada and Israel at $590 per tonne in 2022 on a distributed basis with a credit of six months. IPL declined to comment.
India is also dependent on Russia and Belarus for complex fertilizers that provide nutrients to more than one crop.
Sources said Indian companies are also increasing supplies from Saudi Arabia and Morocco to make up for any shortfall in nitrogen, phosphate and potash.
India is a major importer of fertilizers For its vast agricultural sector, which employs about 60% of the country’s workforce and accounts for 15% of the $2.7 trillion economy.
“This time we have made advance preparations for the kharif (summer sown crop) season. We need about 30 million tonnes of fertilizer and have arrangements in place,” Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Reuters.
India would have a comfortable starting stock of about a quarter of the total quantity of fertilizers needed for the summer season, he said.
With the onset of monsoon rains in June, farmers usually start sowing crops including rice, cotton and soybeans.
To fertilize crops, India depends on its entire annual consumption of 4 million to 5 million tons of potash and ships imports, of which a third comes from Belarus and Russia.
Landlocked Belarus uses ports in Russia and Lithuania for its exports.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shipping routes have been closed and Western sanctions on Moscow described its operations in Ukraine as a “special military operation”, making trade with Russian and Belarusian companies difficult. has gone. read more
Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has increased imports from Canada, Israel and Jordan.
Multiple sources said it would buy 1.2 million tonnes of potash from Canada, 600,000 tonnes from Israel and 300,000 tonnes from Jordan in 2022 to partially replace supplies from Russia and Belarus.
A senior industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the IPL is trying to ensure that “enough shipments” arrive before June to prevent any shortfall during the sowing season. .
India was close to signing a three-year deal fertilizer import Mandaviya plans to strike a deal with Russia during his visit to Moscow this month. The visit was postponed following the invasion of Ukraine that began on 24 February. Read more
One of the sources said that India may try again to sign the deal “when the situation improves”.
Traditionally, India has used prices in deals with Belarus and Russia as a benchmark for supplies from other countries. Sources said Canada has emerged as a price setter for 2022.
IPL is procuring potash from companies in Canada and Israel at $590 per tonne in 2022 on a distributed basis with a credit of six months. IPL declined to comment.
India is also dependent on Russia and Belarus for complex fertilizers that provide nutrients to more than one crop.
Sources said Indian companies are also increasing supplies from Saudi Arabia and Morocco to make up for any shortfall in nitrogen, phosphate and potash.