Centre Activates Multi-Ministry Control Room to Track Fertiliser, Fuel and Maritime Issues 

Ziraat Times News Desk

New Delhi, March 31: The Government of India said adequate stocks of fertilisers and fuel are available across the country despite disruptions linked to developments in West Asia, while intensified monitoring and supply diversification measures are underway to prevent shortages and market disruptions.

The update came during an inter-ministerial media briefing at the National Media Centre where officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, External Affairs, and the Department of Fertilizers outlined steps being taken to ensure supply stability, safeguard Indian nationals abroad, and maintain maritime operations.

Fertiliser stocks sufficient ahead of Kharif season

Officials said the country currently has around 180 lakh tonnes of fertiliser stocks, higher than 147 lakh tonnes available during the same period last year. The estimated fertiliser requirement for the Kharif 2026 season is about 390 lakh tonnes, compared to actual sales of 361 lakh tonnes in Kharif 2025.

Farmers are continuing to receive fertilisers at the same prices as before the current geopolitical situation, the government said.

The Gulf region remains an important source for fertiliser imports, accounting for 20–30% of India’s urea imports and about 30% of DAP imports, besides supplying nearly half of India’s LNG imports, which is used in urea production. However, the government noted that global fertiliser markets have seen rising input costs, including LNG, ammonia and sulphur.

Steps taken to stabilise production and imports

To maintain domestic production, gas supply to urea plants—initially reduced to about 60%—has been gradually increased to 75–80%, boosting urea production by 12,000–15,000 tonnes per day and reducing monthly production losses.

Domestic fertiliser output in March stood at about:

• 18 lakh tonnes of urea

• 9–10 lakh tonnes of P&K fertilisers

In parallel, India has expanded import arrangements and diversified sourcing across several countries including Russia, Morocco, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Canada, Algeria, Egypt, Finland and Togo.

Key supply arrangements include:

• Around 28 lakh tonnes of urea from Russia via the Cape of Good Hope route

• Long-term DAP supply from Saudi Arabia (31.10 lakh tonnes annually for five years)

• 10 lakh tonnes of urea annually from OMIFCO (Oman)

• 7 lakh tonnes from SABIC (Saudi Arabia) until October 2026

A dedicated task group and 16 Indian missions abroad are helping identify additional supply sources.

Crackdown on diversion and hoarding

Authorities said strict monitoring is underway to prevent fertiliser diversion, hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act. In the past 24 hours alone, more than 2,500 raids were conducted across states and union territories, resulting in over 2,000 cylinders being seized in enforcement operations related to fuel supplies.

State governments have also been advised to hold regular press briefings to counter misinformation. Currently, 16 States and Union Territories — including Jammu & Kashmir — are conducting regular briefings, while others have been urged to follow suit.

Fuel supply stable; push for PNG connections

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate stocks of petrol and diesel. Retail outlets across the country are functioning normally.

To stabilise the domestic fuel market, the government has:

• Reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre

• Imposed export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to prioritise domestic supply

City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies are also offering incentives to expand piped natural gas connections for households and commercial establishments. Companies such as Indraprastha Gas Limited, Mahanagar Gas Limited, GAIL Gas Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited are promoting PNG adoption.

During March, over 3 lakh PNG connections were activated across domestic and commercial categories.

LPG deliveries and migrant worker support

The government said LPG supply continues despite logistical pressures. Online LPG bookings have increased to around 95%, while authentication-based deliveries have also risen significantly.

To support vulnerable groups, more than 2.6 lakh 5-kg free trade LPG cylinders were sold in the past week, including over 88,000 in the last two days, mainly for migrant workers.

Maritime operations remain stable

Officials said port operations across India are functioning normally without congestion. Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the Persian Gulf and ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers.

Currently, 18 Indian-flagged vessels with around 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region. Control rooms set up by the Directorate General of Shipping are operating round the clock to coordinate assistance.

PM discusses navigation security with Saudi leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which both leaders stressed the importance of keeping shipping routes open and ensuring freedom of navigation amid the regional tensions.

India also expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the welfare of the Indian community living there.

Evacuation and travel situation improving

The Ministry of External Affairs said the overall flight situation for Indian nationals returning from the region is gradually improving. Since February 28, around 5.5 lakh passengers have returned to India.

Indian missions across West Asia continue to operate 24×7 helplines, assist citizens with travel and consular services, and coordinate with local authorities to ensure safety and support for Indian nationals, including students and seafarers.