India doubles crop plantings, raising fertilizer demand

Indian farmers have more than doubled their planted area in the April-September kharif season compared with a year earlier amid increased rainfall, strengthening fertilizer imports and sales.

The country's farmers have planted more than 31.56mn hectares (ha) (315,600km²) in the kharif sowing season as of 26 June, up from 15.45mn ha during the same period last year, with increases in planted areas for most agricultural products, including oilseeds, pulses, cotton and rice, data from India's agriculture ministry show.

Earlier than expected monsoon rains across most of the country have boosted fertilizer imports in the second quarter of this year, with importers lining up 1.6mn t of DAP and a further 986,000t scheduled for third-quarter arrival.

India's meteorological department on 1 June lifted its projections for the monsoon, which usually runs from June-September, to 104pc of the long period average (LPA) of 88cm.

Total urea, DAP, NPK and MOP sales under the Direct Benefit Transfer system increased to 5.9mn t in June, up by 76pc from sales of 3.36mn t a year earlier, latest government data show.

By Satish Rajmohan