How China Chokes Fertilizers Supply to India
China has not only cut exports of critical minerals to India but has also sharply reduced fertiliser shipments, creating shortages for Indian farmers.
Official figures show that urea imports from China plunged to less than one lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25, compared to 18.65 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. This, even as India’s urea consumption rose from 357.80 lakh tonnes to 387.92 lakh tonnes, while domestic production slipped from 314.09 to 306.67 lakh tonnes. Overall urea imports also declined from 71.04 lakh tonnes to 56.46 lakh tonnes.
The story was similar for Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP). Chinese exports to India dropped from 22.28 lakh tons in 2023-24 to just 8.47 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Meanwhile, India’s own DAP production fell from 43 lakh tonnes to 37.72 lakh tonnes, pushing down consumption from 109.72 to 96.29 lakh tonnes.
In a statement to the Rajya Sabha, the government acknowledged that India, being resource-scarce, cannot meet its fertilizer demand domestically and must rely on imports. Asked whether Beijing’s move was linked to geopolitics, the government pointed to China’s amended export rules — expanding the list of goods requiring mandatory inspection to include 29 fertiliser-related products, including DAP.
The squeeze, along with other supply pressures, prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use his Independence Day address to call for atma-nirbharta (self-reliance) in fertiliser production and express concern over heavy import dependence.
India may bring the issue to the notice of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India beginning today.
