India fertilizer sales up by 79pc in June

Momentum behind sales of urea, DAP, NPK, MOP and SSP fertilizers in India continued in June, driven by increased crop acreage and solid expectations for the ongoing monsoon.

Fertilizer sales hit 6.86mn t last month, up by 79pc on the year and the highest monthly figure since December, as buying ramped up for the June-September monsoon season. Rainfall across the country in June averaged 201.6mm, up by 15pc on long-term levels, latest data show.

Increased crop acreage for India's summer kharif season, running from April-September, has encouraged farmer offtake. Indian farmers have more than doubled the crop acreage so far this kharif season, with latest data showing farmers had planted more than 31.56mn hectares as of 26 June.

DAP and NPK sales were strong in June, with both products more than doubling sales compared with the same month last year. Sales reached 1.27mn t and 1.289mn t for DAP and NPKs, respectively. Urea sales were also solid, up by 70pc to 3.36mn t last month.

By Harry Minihan

India fertilizer sales