February 22, 2012
India fertiliser output may ascend by 9%
Fertiliser production in India, the world''s second-biggest consumer after China, is projected to grow by 9% to 37.6 million tonne in 2012-13 on better capacity utilisation.
As per the assessment made by the Fertiliser Ministry, the country''s indigenous production is expected to increase to 37.6 million tonne in the next fiscal as against 34.6 million tonne this year, a senior government official said.
However, the total availability is likely to be short of demand and will be met through imports. For 2011-12 fiscal, fertiliser demand is pegged at 58 million tonne.
Of total fertiliser production, urea output is likely to increase to 23.3 million tonne in 2012-13 from 21.8 million tonnes in 2011-12 due to better capacity utilisation and on a likely commencement of urea plant of Jaiprakash Associates, the official said.
While production of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) may touch 4.3 million tonne from 3.6 million tonne, output of NPK (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) could rise to 10 million tonne from 9.2 million tonne in the reviewed period.
The entire requirement of around 5 million tonnes of potassic fertilisers would be met through imports as India does not have commercially viable sources of potash.
With a view to make the nation self-sufficient in urea fertiliser, the Fertiliser Ministry has moved a proposal to boost investment in the sector. A Group of Ministers (GoM) is likely to soon take a call on this issue, the official said.
The ministry is also exploring options to buy fertiliser assets abroad to reduce dependency on imports.