New Delhi, June 8: The Centre on Monday said there is no major challenge in the availability of fertilisers for the ongoing Kharif season, with stocks remaining significantly above normal levels despite the evolving situation in West Asia.
During an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in the region, the government said the fertiliser requirement for Kharif 2026 has been reassessed at 383.9 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), while current stocks stand at around 197.56 LMT, accounting for more than 51 per cent of the seasonal requirement. Officials noted that this is substantially higher than the usual stock level of around 33 per cent at this stage.
The government said Indian farmers have already purchased 86.65 LMT of chemical fertilisers, representing nearly 22.6 per cent of the total Kharif requirement. It also highlighted a sharp increase in the use of organic manure, with farmers procuring 11.17 LMT after the West Asia crisis compared to 3.20 LMT during the corresponding period last year.
According to the Department of Fertilisers, about 147.4 LMT of fertilisers have been added to national availability through domestic production and imports since the crisis began. Domestic production included 69.15 LMT of urea, 9.78 LMT of DAP and 22.13 LMT of NPK fertilisers, while imports contributed an additional 33.2 LMT.
Officials said more than 25 LMT of imported urea, DAP and NPK fertilisers are expected to arrive at Indian ports during June, while a global tender for procurement of 17 LMT of urea is currently under process. The availability of raw materials required for fertiliser production is being reviewed regularly, and subsidy payments to fertiliser companies are being cleared on a weekly basis.
The government maintained that India’s fertiliser security remains strong and stable, attributing the comfortable stock position to advance planning, improved logistics and regular monitoring by the Empowered Group of Secretaries, which has held 11 meetings to address supply-related challenges.
The briefing, held at the National Media Centre, also covered fuel availability, natural gas supplies and maritime operations amid the geopolitical situation in West Asia.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG are available across the country and urged citizens to avoid panic buying. More than 1.77 crore LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of around 1.67 crore cylinders during the last four days, while no LPG distributorship has reported stock depletion.
Officials said all refineries are operating at high capacity and domestic LPG production has been enhanced. To shield consumers from rising global crude prices, the government has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.
The ministry also highlighted progress in expanding cleaner energy infrastructure. Since March 2026, about 9.16 lakh PNG connections have been activated and infrastructure has been created for another 3.05 lakh connections. Additionally, around 9.24 lakh consumers have registered for new PNG connections.
The government further announced the launch of E85 fuel, a high-ethanol blend designed for flex-fuel vehicles. Priced nearly ₹20 per litre lower than conventional E20 petrol, the fuel is expected to support cleaner mobility while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all 24 Indian seafarers aboard the vessel MT Marivex, which reported a fire incident off the coast of Oman on Monday, are safe. The Directorate General of Shipping, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Navy, is monitoring the situation and providing necessary assistance.
Officials added that port operations across India remain normal and no congestion has been reported.
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