Fertilizers

Yara International looking aggressively at clean ammonia: Global CEO

In a Q&A, Svein Tore Holsether says his company is looking at more expansions in India as well

Urea imports to fall in FY23, 7.4 mn tonne imported till March 24: Govt

India has imported 74.86 lakh tonne of urea till March 24 and is set to register a year-on-year decline this fiscal. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwanth Khuba shared the details of the import of urea in the last five years. As per the data, the country has imported 74.86 lakh tonnes up to March 24 of the current financial year. Urea imports stood at 91.36 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 fiscal, 98.28 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, 91.23 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 and 74.81 lakh tonnes in 2018-19. "It may be learnt from the above table that import of urea has increased from the year 2018-19 to 2020-21, however, it has decreased in the year 2021-22 and 2022-23," Khuba said. IFFCO commenced the commercial production of nano-liquid urea from August 1, 2021. Nano urea production stood at 290 lakh bottles (500 ml each) last fiscal and 452.11 lakh bottles up to March 21 this fiscal.

Coromandel International to enter into fertilisers, industrial chemicals

Coromandel International Ltd, which is into fertilisers and crop protection chemicals businesses, on Wednesday said it will diversify into speciality and industrial chemicals. Coromandel International is in the business of fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, bio-products, speciality nutrients, organic fertilisers and retail. In a statement, the company said that its Board approved a plan to expand its operations in crop protection chemicals and foray into Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) business. The Board also approved the plan to diversify into new growth areas, namely speciality and industrial chemicals. "This is in line with the company's strategy to establish a sizeable presence in the crop protection chemicals business and leverage its deep technical capabilities and best-in-class infrastructure to enter into adjacencies like CDMO, speciality and industrial Chemicals," it added.

Govt sees no shortage of fertilisers, local output enough to meet demand

Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday asserted that there will be no shortage of fertilisers in the upcoming kharif sowing season as the domestic production and stocks-in-hand will be sufficient to meet the local demand for soil nutrients. The minister said the country might not require to import urea from the spot market to meet Kharif (summer-sown) demand. Urea being imported under long-term supply agreements will come. However, he said, there will be some import of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) to meet the local demand. "There will be no shortage of fertilisers in the upcoming kharif season. The stocks that we will have at the start of next month and estimated domestic production between April and September of next fiscal will be sufficient to meet the projected requirement during Kharif season," Mandaviya told reporters here. He said the country will not need to import urea and NPK from spot markets. Mandaviya informed that the planning for fertiliser

IFFCO, Coal India to manufacture Nano DAP for three years, says govt

The government on Friday said fertiliser cooperative major IFFCO and state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) will manufacture Nano DAP for a period of three years. A notification in this regard was issued on March 2, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwanth Khuba said in his written reply to the Lok Sabha. Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is the second most widely consumed fertiliser after urea in the country. The minister further said IFFCO has informed that it is setting up a Nano DAP plant at its Kalol unit, Gujarat with a production capacity of 2 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. "Nano DAP will be available in the market across the country after commencement of commercial production," he added. On its benefits, the minister shared that preliminary field trials were conducted by IFFCO and CIL on select crops in select institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The report has indicated that with the use of Nano DAP as seed treatment and foliar application

Govt plans to shut down 2 plants of Hindustan Insecticides; cites losses

The government on Friday said it is planning to shut down the operation of state-owned Hindustan Insecticides Ltd's (HIL) two plants located in Kerala and Punjab due to losses incurred for the last several years. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwanth Khuba, in his written reply to the Lok Sabha, said: "Yes Sir", when asked if the government proposes to close down the operation of Kerala and Punjab plants of HIL. He also said that the government is aware of the reports that the salaries of employees have not been disbursed for the last five months. To address this, the government has proposed the closure of the two units of HIL i.e Bathinda in Punjab and Udyogamandal in Kerala, he said. "Accordingly, a proposal seeking funds from the government has been made to cater to meet the expenditure arising on account of VRS/VSS and payment of balance dues of the employees of both units proposed for closure," he added. Khuba further said the two plants in Kerala and Punj

NITI Aayog proposes to make 'gaushalas' self-sustaining entities

The report says 73% of gaushalas sought support from individuals, and 50% didn't have a sustainable revenue model

India is not immune to the stagflation that felled its neighbours

Not much help is expected from the global economy. Financial conditions are tight almost everywhere, and demand tepid

Growth booster nano-DAP's production may kick off in Paradeep soon

The detailed production plan and other targets are being finalised

Fertiliser imports rose 3.9% to 1.9 mn metric tonnes in January: Govt data

The country's fertiliser imports rose by 3.9 per cent to 19.04 lakh tonnes in January this year compared to the year-ago period, according to the Fertiliser Ministry data. The country imported 18.33 lakh tonnes of fertilisers during January 2022. According to the latest data, of the total imports of 19.04 lakh tonne, 10.65 lakh tonnes of urea, 5.62 lakh tonnes of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), 1.14 lakh tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MoP) and 1.63 lakh tonnes of complexes were imported. In the same month of the previous year, the country imported 12.48 lakh tonnes of urea, 2.45 lakh tonnes of DAP and 3.40 lakh tonnes of MoP. The quantity of MoP was for both agriculture and industrial use. The domestic fertiliser production during January this year also rose to 39.14 lakh tonnes when compared with 32.16 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, the data showed. In the international market, there has been a falling trend in fertiliser prices. Urea prices (freight on board) showed a decline o

Use of nano-urea, DAP game-changers? Manufacturers in 'wait-and-watch' mode

The government claims the use of nano urea and DAP can be game-changers, but many private fertiliser manufacturers remain in wait-and-watch mode

Boosting productivity

Nano-fertilisers will improve efficiency

Emissions from manure, synthetic fertilisers could be cut by 80%: Study

Emissions from manure and synthetic fertilisers could be reduced by as much as 80 per cent, to one-fifth of current levels, according to a new study. Researchers have quantified that two thirds of emissions from fertilisers take place after they are spread on fields, with one third of emissions coming from production processes, the study said. The researchers, from University of Cambridge, UK, have calculated the carbon footprint for the full life cycle of fertilisers, the study said. Fertilisers are responsible for approximately five percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, the first time this has been accurately quantified, and found that carbon emissions could be reduced to one-fifth of current levels by 2050, the study said. Although nitrogen-based fertilisers are already known to be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, this is the first time that their overall contribution, from production to deployment, has been fully quantified, the study said. Their analysis found

Rs 20-trn agri credit outlay to boost tractor manufacturers, PSBs: Analysts

However, fertiliser stocks may not see another upsurge as they have have more-than-doubled in the last six months, they said

Morocco plans to sell India 1.7 mn tonnes of phosphate fertilisers in 2023

Moroccan phosphates and fertilisers producer OCP said on Sunday it plans to supply India with 1.7 million tonnes of phosphate-based fertilisers in 2023

Developed world to help small farmers in developing nations: India at WEF

Developed countries should walk the talk on transforming food systems by helping smallholder farmers in developing countries with cheaper access to irrigation, fertilisers and markets, said RK Singh

Nano liquid urea cheaper, better, saves govt subsidy: Mansukh Mandaviya

Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday stressed on the need to promote nano liquid urea in place of conventional granular urea, saying that it is better, cheaper, convenient and will help the government in saving a huge amount of subsidy. In June 2021, cooperative IFFCO launched nano urea as an alternative to conventional urea. It has also set up manufacturing plants to produce nano urea. IFFCO is selling nano urea at Rs 240 per bottle of 500 ml, which can replace one bag of conventional urea of 45kg costing around Rs 265. There is no government subsidy on nano urea. While virtually interacting with four farmers and two owners of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) from different states, Mandaviya enquired about the availability of various fertilisers including nano urea and also whether farmers were getting other advisory services at these centres. Under an scheme, around 3 lakh retail fertiliser shops in the country are getting converted i

TMS Ep325: Paytm Share Buyback, Fertiliser Prices, Markets, Nuclear Fusion

Will the share buyback revive Paytm's fortunes? Will rising fertiliser prices hamper India's inflation battle? Is the worst over for the cement sector? Why is nuclear fusion in the news? Answers here

Will rising fertiliser prices hamper India's inflation battle?

Retail inflation in India has finally come under the comfort zone of the RBI. But the relief may be short-lived, as high global fertilizer prices can affect India's food inflation in the long run

Inorganic fertiliser manufacture requires prior envt clearance: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has clarified that the manufacture or production of inorganic fertilisers required environmental clearance and added that such chemicals were covered under the Environmental Impact Assessment notification of 2006. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification imposes certain restrictions and prohibitions on new projects or activities or the expansion or modernisation of existing projects, unless prior environmental clearance has been obtained. The tribunal observed that merely because an erroneous stand regarding inorganic chemicals was taken by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in an earlier case, it could not be grounds to accept the petitioner's contentions. The NGT was hearing a petition filed by a private company for clarification that its products -- Potassium thiosulfate and Calcium, classified as liquid fertilisers -- did not fall under the notification. The petition further said that on representation made to