India shouldn’t be affected if another country blocks fertiliser supply: Piyush Goyal

He highlighted that the Centre ensured fertiliser prices did not rise by providing subsidies worth crores to shield farmers from cost increases.

His statement follows reports that India is experiencing unexpected disruption in the supply of specialty fertilisers, as China has quietly withheld shipments for over two months.

These fertilisers, essential for high-yield fruit and vegetable crops, now appear caught in what is being described as a silent trade conflict between the two countries.

Although no formal export ban has been announced, Chinese authorities have effectively blocked Indian-bound fertiliser shipments by withholding customs clearance, according to top executives at major importing firms.

The Economic Times, citing industry sources, reported that Chinese factories are now subjecting shipments to India to strict inspections, a measure not applied to other nations. Fertiliser exports to other countries continue without interruption.

“This time it is a complete halt,” said Rajib Chakraborty, president of the Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA), in the ET report. “China has been restricting supplies to India for the past 4–5 years, but never like this.”

India imports nearly 80% of its specialty fertilisers—used mainly for high-value crops and precision farming—from China.

These include water-soluble nutrients, liquid feeds, and controlled-release variants, which are not covered under the fertiliser subsidy programme.

Imports typically range between 150,000 and 160,000 tonnes during the June–December season.

Though demand is rising, limited domestic production has kept India reliant on imports.

However, interest in local manufacturing is growing, with companies like Deepak Fertilisers, Paradeep Phosphates, and Nagarjuna Fertilisers already operating in this space.