{"id":130665,"date":"2026-03-21T22:15:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T01:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/900992182"},"modified":"2026-03-21T22:15:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T01:15:50","slug":"india-to-face-major-challenge-in-fertilisers-shipping-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/21\/india-to-face-major-challenge-in-fertilisers-shipping-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"India to face major challenge in fertilisers: Shipping experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<img width="590" height="442" class="unveil" loading="eager" src="https:\/\/manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com\/images\/default.jpg" data-src="https:\/\/etimg.etb2bimg.com\/photo\/129721002.cms" captionrendered="1" alt="<\/p>\n

Shabu added that alternatives are being analysed but \u201cthey are not sufficient\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Shabu added that alternatives are being analysed but \u201cthey are not sufficient\u201d.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shipping industry experts have warned of a major challenge in procurement of fertilizers by India due to the West Asia war and Iran\u2019s attack on the Strait of Hormuz. The assessment was made by experts attending a two-day International Maritime Conference held by Integrated Maritime Exchange on \u2018freight market volatility, geopolitics and global trade outlook\u2019, in Dehradun on Friday.<\/p>\n

Shabu Oriparambil, MD of UAE-based Transbulk Intl Shipping LLC, who joined via video call, said while the focus is largely on imports of oil and gas, the other big challenge lies in the procurement of fertilizers. \u201cMuch of India\u2019s fertilizers come from the Gulf. With the crop sowing season coming soon, it\u2019s going to be a problem if new solutions are not worked out soon. In the long run, this war may impact the country\u2019s food security,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Shabu added that alternatives are being analysed but \u201cthey are not sufficient\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother concern in the long term is the possible shortage of natural gas after the strikes on Qatar\u2019s Ras Laffan gas facility which is the largest in the world and from where India gets around 47 per cent of its total LNG supply. The Indian govt has so far handled the crisis well to keep the fuel prices in check but it needs to work on a long-term solution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Industry expert Krishnan Subramaniam, chief learning officer at Transworld Academy with a specialisation on tankers, said that considering the situation in West Asia, the Strait of Hormuz is no longer a \u201ctheoretical\u201d chokepoint.<\/p>\n

Munish Mediratta, MD at Singapore-headquartered Bainbridge Navigation, said that long-term shipping contracts are being cancelled by shipliners. \u201cIt is because of the high risk involved along the West Asia routes now, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Many shipliners have declared \u2018force majeure\u2019, under which they have the right to freeze operations due to reasons beyond their control. Apart from this, those willing to take the route are now charging 10 times more freight on a daily basis than what was before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mediratta added there is also a shortage of fuel for the cargo ships, known as \u2018bunkers\u2019. \u201cThese factors are going to raise the cost of a product for consumers and lead to inflation.\u201d
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