April 9, 2012

India's 2012-13 fertiliser output pegs at 36.87 million tonnes

India's 2012-13 fertiliser production is pegged at 36.87 million tonne, up over 8% from last fiscal.

"We have kept a production target of 36,875,300 tonnes of fertiliser for this financial year, which is slightly higher than 34,109,700 tonnes in last fiscal," a senior Fertiliser Ministry official said.

Of this, fertiliser companies will produce 18.14 million tonnes of soil nutrients during the Kharif (summer) season and the rest 18.73 million tonnes in the rabi (winter) period of 2012-13, the official said.

While urea production is estimated at previous year's level of 22.57 million tonnes, the output of complexes and DAP has been pegged higher at 9.98 million tonnes and 4.31 million tonnes, respectively, this year.

Last fiscal, production of complexes and Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was estimated at 7.82 million tonnes and 3.71 million tonnes, each.

Domestic demand of urea is 27-28 million tonnes and the shortage of 6-7 million tonnes will be met through imports. Similarly, the gap in availability of DAP and potash will be filled by imports.

The country imports half of its requirement of DAP and almost entire requirement of potash.