**Executive Summary**
The Government of India has implemented the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, to safeguard fertilizer production following supply disruptions caused by force majeure conditions in the Middle East. To ensure adequate availability for farmers, the government enhanced natural gas supply to approximately 80% of the past six-month average through an EPMC bidding process effective from 18th to 31st March 2026. Current stock levels and production figures confirm a steady supply of Urea, DAP, NPKs, and SSP for the upcoming cropping seasons.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory and Supply Measures**
* **Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026:** Notified on 9th March 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to manage gas shortages.
* **Priority Status:** Fertilizer plants are designated as "Priority Sector II," initially ensuring a gas supply of 65% of their six-month average consumption.
* **Supply Augmentation:** An additional ~7.31 MMSCMD of natural gas was procured via the Empowered Pool Management Committee (EPMC) bidding process for 18th–31st March 2026.
* **Enhanced Capacity:** Total gas availability for the fertilizer sector has been raised to nearly 80% of the previous six-month average consumption.
**Production and Stock Status**
* **Production Figures (1st–24th March 2026):** Domestic Urea production reached 13.55 LMT; DAP/NPKs reached 7.62 LMT; and SSP reached 3.06 LMT.
* **Current Stock (as of 23.03.2026):** National holdings include 53.08 LMT of Urea, 21.80 LMT of DAP, 7.98 LMT of MOP, and 48.38 LMT of NPKs.
**Assessment and Distribution Framework**
* **Requirement Assessment:** The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) consults with State Governments to project state-wise and month-wise fertilizer needs before each cropping season.
* **Allocation and Monitoring:** The Department of Fertilizers issues monthly supply plans based on DA&FW projections and continuously monitors availability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fertilizer Manufacturing Plants**
**Impact:** Designated as Priority Sector II, receiving an increased gas allocation (up to 80% of recent average consumption) to maintain production despite Middle East supply disruptions.
**Action Required:** Utilize procured gas through the EPMC bidding process to meet production targets for Urea and other fertilizers.
**Farmers**
**Impact:** Benefit from the government’s proactive measures to ensure a consistent and adequate supply of essential fertilizers despite global supply chain issues.
**Action Required:** None specified; however, availability is managed to meet their seasonal cropping requirements.
**State Governments**
**Impact:** Assured of receiving adequate fertilizer quantities based on projected needs through the central monthly supply plan.
**Action Required:** Consult with the DA&FW to provide accurate state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirement projections before the cropping season starts.
**Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)**
**Impact:** Responsible for the critical assessment phase of the supply chain.
**Action Required:** Conduct consultations with all State Governments to finalize requirement projections for the Department of Fertilizers.
Key Entities Referenced
Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026: A regulation notified to manage gas supply during force majeure conditions, designating fertilizer plants as a priority sector to ensure production.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary legislation under which the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order was issued to safeguard the production of essential fertilizers.
Empowered Pool Management Committee (EPMC): The committee responsible for the bidding process used to procure additional natural gas to augment supplies for the fertilizer sector.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): The government body that assesses state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements before each cropping season.
Department of Fertilizers: The primary department responsible for allocating fertilizer quantities to states and monitoring the continuous availability of stocks.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers :
Department of Fertilizers
Government Takes Proactive Measures to
Safeguard Fertilizer Production and Ensure
Adequate Availability for Farmers
Total Natural Gas Supply to Fertilizer Sector Enhanced to
Nearly 80% of Past Six-Month Average Consumption
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 5:32PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India has taken proactive measures to safeguard fertilizer production and ensure
adequate availability for farmers despite disruptions in natural gas supplies. In a written reply to a question
in the Lok Sabha today, Smt. Anupriya S. Patel, MoS for Chemicals and Fertilizers, informed that the
Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 was notified on 9th March 2026 under the Essential
Commodities Act, 1955, in view of force majeure conditions arising from ongoing issues in the Middle
East. Under this order, fertilizer plants were designated as Priority Sector II, with gas supply maintained
at approximately 65% of their past six-month average consumption, subject to operational availability.
To further augment supplies to the Fertilizer sector, an additional ~7.31 MMSCMD of Natural Gas has
been procured through EPMC (Empowered Pool Management Committee) bidding process for the period
18th March 2026 to 31st March 2026. This has resulted in an increase in total gas availability to the
Fertilizer sector to ~80% of their past six-month average consumption.
During the period starting from 1st March, 2026 to 24th March 2026, 13.55 LMT of Domestic Urea has
been produced. Apart from that, DAP/NPKs and SSP has been produced to the tune of 7.62 LMT & 3.06
LMT respectively for the same period.
Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments, assesses the State-wise & month-wise
requirement of fertilizers. Further, on the basis of requirement projected by DA&FW, D/o Fertilizers
allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and continuously
monitors the availability.
In view of the above, the current stocks of fertilizers in the country as on 23.03.2026 includes 53.08 LMT
of Urea, 21.80 LMT of DAP, 7.98 LMT of MOP and 48.38 LMT of NPKs.
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Neeraj Kumar Bhatt/ Amit Kumar/ Shatrughna Prasad
cmc.fertilizers[at]gmail[dot]com
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