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India to up fertilizer imports from Russia amid higher production costs at home — official

The country imports some 1-1.5 million metric tons of NPK, of which 60-70% would come from Russia

NEW DELHI, December 1. /TASS/. India is planning to import more fertilizers from Russia with the cost of producing those domestically rising amid more expensive gas, and will keep doing it "as long as it is possible," Arun Singhal, Secretary at India’s Department of Fertilizers, said in an interview with the Indian Express published on Thursday.

According to Singhal, normally, India produces about 10 million metric tons of NPK every year. The country also imports some 1-1.5 million metric tons of such fertilizers, of which 60-70% would come from Russia. However, India has to buy more expensive gas to produce fertilizers because of the geopolitical situation, which pushed up domestic fertilizer prices.

"We thought of trying to offset it by importing more from Russia," Singhal said, mentioning that Russia produces phosphorous, potash and lots of urea as well.

"We have been importing urea from Russia. We are getting phosphatic fertilizers and some DAP also. As long as it is possible, we will keep doing that because we want to broadbase our sources [of supplies]," Singhal added.

Addressing the plenary meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in late October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian fertilizer exports to India had surged by 7.6 times after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested to scale up fertilizer supplies.

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