KRIBHCO lines up 3–4 lakh tonnes of fertiliser imports for rabi

New Delhi: Fertiliser cooperative Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd (KRIBHCO) plans to import 3–4 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertilisers for the rabi season beginning next month, even as it flagged the risk of weaker demand due to El Nino.

“We have lined up imports of 3–4 lakh tonnes of DAP and NPK fertilisers for the rabi season,” Chairman V Sudhakar Chowdary told PTI on the sidelines of the cooperative’s 46th annual general meeting on Friday.

Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) is India’s second-most widely used fertiliser after urea.

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Stocks to support supply

Managing Director S S Yadav said KRIBHCO had already imported 8 lakh tonnes of DAP and 1 lakh tonnes of other NPK fertilisers, ensuring adequate availability during kharif.

A further 3 lakh tonnes would be imported over the next two to three months, he said. Combined with existing stocks of 6 lakh tonnes, these supplies would be sufficient to meet the cooperative’s rabi demand.

KRIBHCO typically imports 12–15 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertilisers annually, out of India’s total imports of around 70 lakh tonnes, Yadav said.

Global prices remain firm

Yadav said the West Asia crisis continued to keep international fertiliser prices elevated, with DAP at around USD 900 a tonne and NPK at USD 915 a tonne.

“This is a matter of concern,” he said.

El Nino could also affect demand by reducing the area under cultivation during rabi, he cautioned.

“There is a possibility that the demand will be reduced due to El Nino because there is going to be less sowing, and it will have an impact on rabi as well,” Yadav said.

A rainfall deficit had reduced kharif crop coverage, although fertiliser consumption had not declined in absolute terms, he added.

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Profit rises 16 percent

KRIBHCO reported a 16 percent increase in net profit to around Rs 630 crore for FY2025-26.

The cooperative operates two urea manufacturing units, at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Surat in Gujarat, with a combined annual capacity of 35 lakh tonnes.

Yadav said KRIBHCO was also promoting balanced fertiliser use through products including bio-fertilisers and Farm Organic Manure made from cow dung.

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