Fertiliser Ships From Conflict Zone Successfully Cross Strait of Hormuz, Head for Indian Ports
New Delhi: Four ships carrying approximately 1.8 lakh tonnes of fertiliser inputs have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime chokepoint—and are now en route to Indian ports, the Union Fertiliser Department confirmed on Monday.
The vessels, transporting urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and sulphur, navigated the strait on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last week. Three oil tankers bound for India also crossed the same waterway on Saturday. Officials stated that all seven India-bound ships cleared the strait shortly before Iran announced a fresh closure of the route.
The four fertiliser ships include two carrying a total of 91,750 tonnes of urea, one vessel with 55,000 tonnes of DAP, and a fourth carrying 33,251 tonnes of sulphur. The consignments are expected to arrive at ports in Krishnapatnam and Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Paradeep (Odisha), and Mundra (Gujarat) in the coming days.
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a vital passage for global energy and commodity trade. Tensions in the region have periodically disrupted shipping, affecting supply chains for countries heavily dependent on imports, such as India. The successful transit of these vessels provides some relief to Indian fertiliser availability ahead of the sowing season.
The fertiliser department had been closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with shipping lines to ensure uninterrupted supply. India imports a significant portion of its urea and DAP requirements, and any disruption in the Hormuz route could impact agricultural input prices and food security.
As of Monday, the ships are sailing normally and are expected to dock at their designated ports within the next two weeks. Port authorities have been briefed to facilitate smooth unloading and distribution.
