India has sharply increased its purchases of urea from Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria, importing about 1.1 million tonnes from the three African producers in the first quarter of the current financial year as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz disrupt traditional supply routes. According to The Indian Express and Business Insider Africa, India imported 2.5 million tonnes of urea during the quarter, with Egypt supplying 609,000 tonnes, Algeria 245,000 tonnes and Nigeria 244,000 tonnes. Together, the three African countries accounted for roughly 44% of India’s total urea imports during the period.
The shift represents a significant change in India’s sourcing pattern, with the three countries having supplied virtually no urea to India during the comparable period a year earlier. Egypt’s MOPCO and Abu Qir, Algeria’s Sorfert and AOA, and Nigeria’s Dangote Fertiliser and Indorama Eleme are among the major producers positioned to benefit from the change in global trade flows. India’s government has also been pursuing broader diversification of fertiliser imports as geopolitical disruptions increase pressure on international supply chains.
The development creates a major commercial opportunity for Africa’s fertiliser producers while highlighting the strategic value of Nigeria’s expanding fertiliser manufacturing capacity. For India, securing alternative suppliers is increasingly important because higher global fertiliser prices are putting pressure on government finances and could push the country’s fertiliser subsidy burden toward ₹3.54 trillion ($37.1 billion). For African exporters, stronger Indian demand could support higher utilisation, export revenues and longer term supply relationships in one of the world’s largest agricultural markets.
Looking ahead, the durability of India’s shift toward African suppliers will depend on global fertiliser prices, shipping conditions and the stability of Gulf supply routes. If disruptions persist, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria could secure a more prominent position in India’s fertiliser procurement strategy, potentially strengthening Africa’s role in global agricultural supply chains while creating new opportunities for investment in nitrogen fertiliser production and logistics.
