New Delhi, April 24, 2026 — India's fertiliser supply is robust, surplus, and well ahead of seasonal demand, the Union Government confirmed on Friday, firmly rejecting recent claims of shortages as baseless. According to the Department of Fertilisers, availability has consistently exceeded requirement across all major nutrient categories — including Urea, DAP, MOP, NPK, and SSP — both during the concluded Rabi 2025–26 season and the ongoing financial year.

Rabi 2025–26 Season: Supply Comfortably Outpaced Demand

During the Rabi season (October 2025 – March 2026), fertiliser availability across all key nutrients significantly outstripped national demand. Urea availability reached 257.59 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) against a requirement of just 196.06 LMT — a surplus of over 61 LMT.

DAP availability stood at 75.40 LMT versus a requirement of 53.43 LMT. Supplies of MOP, NPK, and SSP were similarly well above their respective demand levels, signalling a nationwide inventory buffer that left little room for any genuine shortage narrative.

April 2026 Opening Position: Strong Start to Kharif Season

The supply momentum carried forward into the new financial year. Between April 1 and April 23, 2026, availability remained substantially above requirement across all fertiliser types — indicating a solid foundation for the upcoming Kharif 2026 season.

During this period, Urea availability was recorded at 69.33 LMT against a requirement of only 18.17 LMT — nearly four times the demand. DAP, MOP, NPK, and SSP also recorded availability levels multiple times higher than their respective requirements.

Kharif 2026 Preparedness: 46% of Requirement Already Stocked

For the Kharif 2026 season, the government has estimated a total fertiliser requirement of 390.54 LMT. Of this, approximately 180 LMT — or 46 per cent — is already available as opening stock. This is a significant improvement over the historical pre-season norm of around 33 per cent, reflecting enhanced planning, advance procurement, and efficient logistics.

This level of preparedness is particularly noteworthy given the global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties that have impacted fertiliser markets worldwide since 2022. India's ability to maintain surplus stocks amid such headwinds is a direct outcome of strategic policy interventions, including long-term import contracts and domestic production support.

Global Procurement and Domestic Production Secured

On the international front, Indian diplomatic missions abroad have been actively working to facilitate alternative sourcing channels. The government has secured approximately 25 LMT of Urea through global tenders, cushioning India against any sudden supply shocks from traditional supplier nations.

Domestically, issues related to natural gas supply — a critical input for urea manufacturing — have been resolved, with steady fuel availability now ensured to all fertiliser production plants across the country. This dual approach of securing imports while bolstering domestic output has been central to India's fertiliser security strategy.

State-Level Coordination and Anti-Hoarding Measures

State governments are in continuous coordination with the Centre to monitor fertiliser movement and availability at the district level. This granular oversight is designed to prevent regional disparities in supply from emerging, especially in remote or agriculturally vulnerable areas.

States have been explicitly directed to take strict action against diversion, hoarding, black marketing, and panic mongering — practices that can artificially inflate perceived shortages and harm farmers. The government's proactive stance on enforcement reflects lessons learned from past seasons where localized hoarding created supply perception gaps despite adequate national stocks.

Notably, this announcement comes ahead of the critical Kharif sowing window, which typically begins in June–July and accounts for a large share of India's annual food grain production. With 180 LMT already in stock and global procurement underway, the government appears positioned to support farmers through the season without disruption. All eyes will now be on actual distribution efficiency at the last mile — the true test of whether surplus national stocks translate into timely access for India's 140 million farming households.