Sales of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) have declined so far this month despite ‘higher’ availability whereas there is a big jump in sales of urea and marginal rise in complex (combination of N, P, K nutrients) fertiliser. The government said that there was ‘comfortable’ availability of urea, Muriate of Potash (MoP), complex and single super phosphate (SSP).
According to latest official data, the sales of DAP were 4.22 lakh tonnes (lt) during December 1-12 against 4.76 lt in the year-ago period. The sales of MoP also marginally lower at 0.88 lt from 0.95 lt, ans that of SSP at 2.11 lt from 2.25 lt. But, urea sales have jumped 20 per cent to 21.55 lt from 17.97 lt and complex 2 per cent to 5.45 lt from 5.34 lt.
The government said that the availability as of December 12 was 66.56 lt in case of urea, 20.67 lt of DAP, 7.09 lt of MOP, 40.13 lt of complex and 20.96 lt of SSP, which are sufficient to meet the entire month’s demand.
On basis of inputs from States, the Agriculture Ministry has pegged the demand of fertilisers during December, which historically sees maximum sales during the main Rabi sowing period of October-January, at 43.78 lt of urea, 8.13 lt of DAP, 2.80 lt of MOP, 15.26 lt of complex and 4.85 lt of SSP.
‘No shortage’
According to Fertilizer Association of India (FAI), sales during April-October of current fiscal were recorded at 216.4 lt of urea, 57.2 lt of DAP, 13 lt of MOP, 89.2 lt of complex and 34.8 lt of SSP, higher in the range of 0.4 per cent to 18.5 per cent from the year-ago period.
Amid complaints of urea shortage in many parts of the state, the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary SP Goyal earlier this week reviewed the situation in his regular meeting with district magistrates and divisional commissioners. Though he was told that adequate urea was available, he is reported to have directed officials to ensure a minimum of 25 tonnes of urea at all sales centres. He directed that licences of private sellers should be cancelled and FIRs be filed if complaints of overcharging are received.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha this week denied any shortage of urea in the country and said that the increased demand for it was due to good monsoon and the country is expecting another year of bumper crops output. She sought additional expenditure of ₹1.32 lakh crore, including ₹18,525.1 crore on account of fertiliser subsidy alone, for the current financial year.
Sitharaman had also mentioned that the country is “importing steadily”, 20.21 lt in October happened, while about 17.5 lt of urea were scheduled for arrival in November-December. Urea import is executed through government’s canalising agency and decided by the government.
Published on December 19, 2025
