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Raw materials

Import fertilisers (urea, dap, npk)

Urea is imported only through state trading enterprises; DAP and NPK are free. Nil or low duty, 5% IGST.

Through a state trading bodyHS 3102 / 3105
Basic customs duty
2.5–5%
Urea, DAP: Nil; most NPK and complex: 5%; listed water-soluble NPK grades: 2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 12.6 bn
from 62 countries

Tariff rates are 10% for urea (3102 10) and 5% for most lines of 3105. Notification 45/2025-Customs makes urea (S. No. 131) and DAP (S. No. 133) nil, sets 5% for ammonium phosphates and composite fertilisers (S. Nos. 128–129), and 2.5% or 5% for the water-soluble and liquid fertilisers listed at S. No. 130 (for example 19:19:19 and 13:40:13 NPK at 2.5%). Fertilisers for use as fertiliser carry 5% IGST (Schedule I, notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). Check your grade on ICEGATE. AIDC 5% on urea (3102 10 00) and DAP (3105 30 00) under notification 11/2021-Customs as first issued — confirm the current AIDC on ICEGATE. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended ↗

What is imported

India imports a large share of its urea, DAP and complex fertilisers, and the government subsidises their sale to farmers. TradeStat shows imports under 3102 of about US$ 5.6 billion in FY 2025-26 (China, Russia, Oman, Qatar) and under 3105 of about US$ 7.0 billion (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Morocco, China). Fertiliser companies and the state trading enterprises do most of this importing; a small trader mainly deals in specialty and water-soluble fertilisers.

Import policy · Through a state trading body

Urea (3102 10) can be imported only through the state trading enterprises named in ITC(HS). DAP, NPK and most other fertilisers are free, but every fertiliser sold in India must meet the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, and the importer needs FCO registration.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Department of Fertilizers / State agriculture departmentRegistration under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 as an importer and dealer; the product must be a grade notified in the FCO or provisionally notified.fert.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Samples drawn under the FCO and tested at a notified fertiliser quality control laboratory.
  • Customs checks the grade (nutrient content) claimed for the concessional rate.
  • For urea, customs checks that the importer is an authorised state trading enterprise.

Practical tips

  • Small importers should start with water-soluble and specialty grades that are listed in the FCO and the concession list.
  • Ask the supplier for a certificate of analysis per lot and match it to the FCO specification before shipment.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Importing a grade not notified under the FCO — it cannot legally be sold to farmers.
  • Product failing the nutrient test after landing; the batch is declared non-standard.
Sources (8)
  1. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  2. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  3. Notification 11/2021-Customs — Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (as first issued)
  4. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), 17 Sep 2025 (IGST rates from 22 Sep 2025)
  5. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  6. Department of Fertilizers — Fertiliser Control Order and import policy
  7. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  8. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys fertilisers (urea, dap, npk)

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 12.6 bn
Change from 2024-25
+87.1%
Supplying countries
62
Biggest supplier
Russia
20%
Russia: US$ 2.53 bnSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.4 bnChina: US$ 2.33 bnMorocco: US$ 1.31 bnOman: US$ 844 mnQatar: US$ 429 mnIndonesia: US$ 375 mnAustralia: US$ 322 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 314 mnNigeria: US$ 205 mnMalaysia: US$ 165 mnJordan: US$ 148 mnEgypt: US$ 139 mnVietnam: US$ 138 mnRussia: US$ 2.53 bnRussiaSaudi Arabia: US$ 2.4 bnSaudi ArabiaChina: US$ 2.33 bnChinaMorocco: US$ 1.31 bnMoroccoOman: US$ 844 mnQatar: US$ 429 mnIndonesia: US$ 375 mnIndonesiaAustralia: US$ 322 mnAustraliaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 314 mnNigeria: US$ 205 mnMalaysia: US$ 165 mnJordan: US$ 148 mnEgypt: US$ 139 mnVietnam: US$ 138 mnIndia
Where India imports fertilisers (urea, dap, npk) from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 5.57 bn5.6k2020-212021-22: US$ 11.7 bn12k2021-222022-23: US$ 13.8 bn14k2022-232023-24: US$ 7.62 bn7.6k2023-242024-25: US$ 6.72 bn6.7k2024-252025-26: US$ 12.6 bn13k2025-26
India’s fertilisers (urea, dap, npk) imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1RussiaUS$ 2.53 bn+86.6%
2Saudi ArabiaUS$ 2.4 bn+62.3%
3ChinaUS$ 2.33 bn+170.5%
4MoroccoUS$ 1.31 bn+106.4%
5OmanUS$ 844 mn-21.1%
6QatarUS$ 429 mn+105.7%
7IndonesiaUS$ 375 mn+499%
8AustraliaUS$ 322 mn+170.4%
9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 314 mn+43.3%
10FinlandUS$ 210 mn—
11NigeriaUS$ 205 mn+91.5%
12MalaysiaUS$ 165 mn+128%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. VietnamUS$ 3.5 mn → US$ 138 mn+3,862.5%
  2. IndonesiaUS$ 62.6 mn → US$ 375 mn+499%
  3. EgyptUS$ 47.1 mn → US$ 139 mn+195.1%
  4. ChinaUS$ 861 mn → US$ 2.33 bn+170.5%
  5. AustraliaUS$ 119 mn → US$ 322 mn+170.4%
  6. MalaysiaUS$ 72.2 mn → US$ 165 mn+128%

Shrinking sources

  1. OmanUS$ 1.07 bn → US$ 844 mn-21.1%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Diamonm hydrgnorthphospht(diamonm phospht)3105 30 00US$ 4.87 bn+75.8%6.37 mn tonnesUS$ 0.77 per kg
Fertilizer grade, conforming to standard is 54063102 10 10US$ 3.87 bn+148%8.38 mn tonnesUS$ 0.46 per kg
Other : urea, whether or not in aqueous solution3102 10 90US$ 1.29 bn+56%2.79 mn tonnesUS$ 0.46 per kg
Minrl/chemcl fertlsrs contng the three frtlsng elmnts nitrogn ph...3105 20 00US$ 1.15 bn+48.2%2.33 mn tonnesUS$ 0.49 per kg
Other minrl/chcml fertlsrs contng two fer-lsng elemnts nitrogen...3105 59 00US$ 615 mn+271.5%1.38 mn tonnesUS$ 0.44 per kg
Amonm dihydrognorthophospht(monoammonium phospht)/mxtrs with diam...3105 40 00US$ 181 mn+13.6%2,14,338 tonnesUS$ 0.84 per kg
Fertilizers, mineral or chemical, nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate — ammonium sulphate3102 21 00US$ 174 mn+85.8%9,65,712 tonnesUS$ 0.18 per kg
Ammonium nitrate whether or not in aqueous solution3102 30 00US$ 158 mn-6.6%4,00,100 tonnesUS$ 0.39 per kg
Minrl or chmcl fertlsrs contng the two fertlsng elmnts phosphoru...3105 60 00US$ 80.5 mn+11.4%55,670 tonnesUS$ 1.45 per kg
Double slt/mxtr of calcm nitrte/amonm ntrt3102 60 00US$ 68.9 mn+40.8%2,24,167 tonnesUS$ 0.31 per kg
Minrl or chmcl fertlsrs contng the two fertlsng elmnts nitrogen ...3105 90 10US$ 51.3 mn+11.3%60,329 tonnesUS$ 0.85 per kg
Fertilizers, mineral or chemical in heading no. 3105 — other fertilisers n.e.s.3105 90 90US$ 30.9 mn+24.4%25,076 tonnesUS$ 1.23 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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