Southwest monsoon rains are expected to set in over south India's Kerala state on 29 May, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast factors in a deviation of four days from the date that marks the start of the regional monsoon season.
The IMD had previously issued a forecast for a normal monsoon in India this year, which is typically a positive sign for fertilizer consumption.
Seasonal rainfall is likely to be 97pc of the long-period average (LPA), putting the probability of this happening at 42pc. The LPA during 1951-2000 was 89cm.
