India turns to Egypt and 2 other African countries for 1.1 million tonnes of urea as its subsidy bill nears $37 billion

India has sharply increased urea purchases from Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria, sourcing about 1.1 million tonnes from the three African countries as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz strain traditional supply routes and push its fertiliser subsidy bill towards ₹3.54 trillion ($37.1 billion).

According to commerce ministry data cited by Mint, India imported 2.5 million tonnes of urea in the first quarter of the current financial year, with Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and Georgia accounting for 52% of the total.

Egypt supplied 609,000 tonnes, followed by Algeria with 245,000 tonnes and Nigeria with 244,000 tonnes, while Georgia shipped 211,000 tonnes.

Together, the three African countries supplied nearly 1.1 million tonnes, marking a sharp increase from the same quarter a year earlier, when India imported no urea from any of the four countries.

The rise also highlights Africa’s growing role in India’s fertiliser market, where major producers include MOPCO and Abu Qir in Egypt, Sorfert and AOA in Algeria, and Dangote Fertiliser and Indorama Eleme in Nigeria.