Complex fertilizer sales up 27% in May, chops of saving from lower sales of urea

After higher sales for two months since the US-Israel conflict against Iran began, India has been able to contain consumption of major fertilisers, such as urea and di-ammonia phosphate (DAP), during May below the estimated demand for the month as well as from year-ago levels. Only in case of complex fertiliser (combination of N, P, K nutrients) there was a 27 per cent rise in sales and it has contributed to the total sales of all four key fertilisers matching the year-ago number.

As reported by businessline, there was panic buying of fertilizers in March and April, leading to a huge surge in sales number. The Centre also reached out to States to ensure the sales are reduced.

Official sources said that overall consumption of urea, DAP, muriate of potash (MOP) and complex was 39.5 lakh tonnes (lt) in May against 39.4 lt a year ago.

Last month, sales of urea were 21.55 lt against 23.6 lt a year ago, while those of DAP were 5.51 lt against 5.69 lt, MOP a tad lower at 1.42 lt against 1.45 lt.

But complex increased to 11.02 lt from 8.66 lt a year ago, and this offset the savings the government may have made from highly subsidised urea and DAP.

While the government has been able to maintain the retail prices of urea and DAP, rates of popular NPK products (having 3 or 4 nutrients) have increased by 16-41 per cent from a year ago.

With the overall sales for May, fertiliser - urea, DAP, MOP and complex – consumption in the first two months of the current fiscal have now reached 64 lt against 58.32 lt during the corresponding period of 2025-26 and 51.29 lt in the comparable period of 2024-25.

“In the prevailing global scenario, excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers has led to widespread concerns relating to soil degradation, declining soil organic carbon, nutrient imbalance and water pollution. Continuous over-reliance on chemical inputs adversely affects soil biodiversity and microbial activity, reducing the natural fertility and long-term productive capacity of agricultural land. Further, excessive fertiliser application not only increases cultivation costs for farmers but also contributes to environmental degradation,” Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a communication to State leaders.

Chouhan on May 26 had written letters to chief ministers, states’ agriculture ministers, all Members of Parliament and Chairpersons of District Panchayat Committees, urging them to cooperate in reducing use of chemical fertilisers and save the soil.

Requesting the political leaders to take up some measures in their constituencies and areas of influence as part of a month-long “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” (save soil campaign), which was started from June 1, Chouhan suggested them to promote natural farming by encouraging awareness programmes, farmer interactions and field demonstrations highlighting its benefits.

“The public representatives who are themselves engaged in farming may consider voluntarily converting at least 25 per cent of their cultivable land to Natural Farming practices. Such demonstration through personal example would serve as a strong source of inspiration for farmers and help build confidence,” he said.

Besides, these leaders have been requested by Chouhan to encourage healthy life style/behavioural change in food habits for reducing edible oil consumption by 10 per cent.

For the promotion of balanced use of fertilizers, applying nutrients as per soil need, Chouhan said States should take steps to effectively control excess sale/use of chemical fertilisers and intensify enforcement to prevent diversion for non-agricultural purpose. He also urged them to curb hoarding and misuse of fertilizers in the top Urea/DAP consumption Districts as the Centre has been regularly flagging.

“Promote mass awareness campaign for the use of alternative fertilisers and balanced nutrient management practices such as use of NPK and SSP as alternatives to DAP/Urea along with the use of bio-fertilisers, nano fertilisers, organic manure and micronutrients,” he said.