June 18, 2012
India's fertiliser firms lift prices of non-urea products
Citing the rupee's depreciation and the Centre's decision to cut subsidy on these products, India's fertiliser companies have increased the prices of all nutrient-based products for the current kharif planting season.
The MRP of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) - the country's most widely used fertiliser after urea - has increased to INR24,000 (US$431) a tonne from an average of INR18,200 (US$327) a tonne during the last Rabi season.
Companies have also hiked the farm-gate prices (Excluding state levies) of muriate of potash (MOP) and single super phosphate (SSP) from INR12,000 (US$215) and INR4,800 (US$86) to INR17,000 (US$305) and INR7,800 (US$140) a tonne, respectively.
The popular NPK complex fertiliser, 10:26:26, will cost INR22,000 (US$395) a tonne against the existing INR16,000 (US$287) a tonne.
The new prices are technically effective from June 1. However, the farmers would not have to pay these rates for stocks already dispatched to dealers, according to reports.
The latest price increases would only widen the differential between urea and other fertilisers, reports said.