MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a): The details of the feedstock and intermediates required for producing various fertilizers imported by India during 2008-09 to 2011-12 are given in the table below:
Year Feedstock Intermediate Raw Material
LNG Ammonia (Million Phosphoric Acid Rock Phos Sulphur (Million (MMSCMD) tonnes) (as P2O5) (Million phate tonnes) tonnes) (Million tonnes)
2008-09 7.00-8.00 1.471 1.582 5.261 1.445
2009-10 7.12 1.916 2.721 5.327 1.294
2010-11 8.00 1.735 2.140 6.387 1.808
2011-12 8.26 1.726 1.906 N.A. N.A
MMSCMD – Million standard cubic meters per day. N.A. – not available.
(b) to (d) The international prices of the raw materials are highly volatile and have increased in recent years. The Government is implementing Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers under which
a fixed amount of subsidy decided on annual basis, is provided on all grades of subsidized P&K fertilizers depending upon
its nutrient contents. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of P&K fertilizers is fixed by fertilizer companies. Since the country is dependent on imports of P&K fertilizers either in the form of finished fertilizers or its raw materials, the delivered prices of P&K fertilizers are dependent on international prices of P&K fertilizers and its raw materials and exchange rate
of India Rupees against US$.
During the year 2010-11, the international prices of P&K fertilizers and its raw materials increased marginally and exchange rate remained stable, therefore, the prices of P&K fertilizers in the country increased marginally. During the year 2011-12, in spite of increase in the rates of subsidy rates, the prices of P&K fertilizers rose due to increase in international prices of P&K fertilizers and increase in exchange rate. During the year 2012-13, the prices of P&K fertilizers have increased mainly due to depreciation of Indian Rupees from around Rs. 50 per US$ in March 2012 to more than Rs.56 per
US$ in June 2012.
There is no impact of prices in the international market on the domestic price of Urea as it is provided to farmers at statutory MRP of Rs. 5310 per MT throughout the country.
The details of international prices of fertilizers, their intermediates and raw materials and also the highest MRP of various fertilizers in the country are annexed.
