16 India-Bound Fertiliser Ships Stranded In Strait Of Hormuz, Government Says

India said on Tuesday that 16 ships carrying fertiliser cargoes bound for the country are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint for global trade.

Bandana Preyashi, Joint Secretary in the fertilisers ministry, said the vessels include eight ships carrying 330,000 metric tons of urea, four ships carrying 257,000 tons of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), one ship carrying ammonia, and three ships carrying 110,000 tons of sulphur.

The cargoes are intended for India’s domestic agricultural demand during the summer crop season.

Preyashi said India has already imported 5 million tons of crop nutrients, including urea, to meet seasonal requirements and has also boosted domestic production.

The government has also floated a global tender to import 1.7 million tons of urea.

“At present, we see no major challenge to the availability of fertilisers in the current sowing season,” Preyashi said.

India is expected to consume 38.39 million tons of fertilisers during the current harvest season, she added.

Officials said the situation is being monitored, but there is no immediate concern over availability despite the delay of the 16 vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

References: Economictimes, Reuters