## Policy Summary: Restriction on Import of Speciality Fertilizers
**Subject:** Response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 89 regarding restrictions on speciality fertilizer imports, particularly from China, addressed on July 25, 2025.
**Key Issue:** Concerns raised regarding potential disruptions to the supply, pricing, and agricultural productivity in India due to reported restrictions on speciality fertilizer exports from China.
**Government Position:** The Department of Fertilizers clarifies that speciality fertilizers are not subsidized under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme, allowing fertilizer companies to import them based on their business needs.
**Impact Assessment:**
* **Water Soluble Fertilizers:** Over the past 23 months, China has reportedly withheld exports of speciality fertilizers to India. While India has a domestic production capacity of 1.24 LMT of Water Soluble Fertilizers (WSF) through thirteen companies, the annual consumption in 2023-24 was approximately 3.35 LMT. This resulted in significant imports of approximately 1.6 LMT from China during 2024-25.
* **Micronutrients:** India primarily imports micronutrients from Greece, Turkey, USA, Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands, with a smaller quantity of zinc sulphate monohydrate sourced from China. Therefore, the impact on the availability of micronutrients is expected to be minimal.
**Mitigation Measures:** Indian companies are actively diversifying their sources of Water Soluble Fertilizers to offset the shortfall from reduced Chinese imports, sourcing from alternative suppliers in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and the USA.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI SASHIKANTH SENTHIL: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the starred question No. 89 regarding restrictions on import of Speciality Fertilizers.
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS: The Indian government ministry responsible for chemical and fertilizer policies.
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS: A department under the MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS, responsible for administering policies related to fertilizers.
SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA: The MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS FERTILIZERS AND HEALTH FAMILY WELFARE who provided the answer to the LOK SABHA question.
China: Country from which India imports Speciality Fertilizers, specifically water soluble fertilizers and zinc sulphate monohydrate.
Nutrient Based Subsidy NBS Scheme: A scheme administered by the Department of Fertilizers, under which Speciality Fertilizers are not subsidized.
Belgium: An alternative supplier country from where Indian companies are sourcing Water Soluble Fertilizers.
Egypt: An alternative supplier country from where Indian companies are sourcing Water Soluble Fertilizers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 89* TO BE ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2025
Restriction on import of Speciality Fertilizes
89*. SHRI SASHIKANTH SENTHIL:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of recent restrictions or suspension of speciality
fertilizer exports from China to India, if so, the nature and timeline of these restrictions;
(b) whether India relies significantly on China for the import of such fertilizers, including
water soluble and micronutrient based products and if so, the estimated percentage of
share of these imports;
(c) whether the ban on exports of speciality fertilizers from China has had any impact
on fertilizer availability, pricing, or agricultural productivity in the country, if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has undertaken measures to ensure uninterrupted supply
of speciality fertilizers and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the
Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND HEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
******-2-
STATEMENT REFERRED TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 89* FOR
25.07.2025 REGARDING “RESTRICTION ON IMPORT OF SPECIALITY
FERTILIZES” TABLED BY SHRI SASHIKANTH SENTHIL
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(a) to (d): Specialty Fertilizers are not subsidized fertilizers within the ambit of Nutrient
Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme administered by Department of Fertilizers. Fertilizer
companies are free to import these fertilizers as per their business dynamics. Over the
past 2–3 months, China has reportedly withheld export of specialty fertilizers to India.
Thirteen companies in India have capacity to produce 1.24 LMT of Water Soluble
Fertilizers and as annual consumption of Water Soluble Fertilizers was around 3.35
LMT (2023-24), a significant quantity of approximately 1.6 LMT was imported from
China during 2024-25. Indian companies are actively sourcing Water Soluble
Fertilizers from alternative suppliers in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco & USA to
offset the shortfall caused by reduced imports from China. In the case of
micronutrients, India imports major quantity of various micronutrients from Greece,
Turkey, USA, Spain, Singapore and Netherlands, while a little quantity of zinc sulphate
monohydrate from China. Therefore, there will be not much impact on the availability
of micronutrients.
****