India Fertilizers Import Market -- HS 3105 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q1 2025)

India Fertilizers Import (HS 3105) Key Takeaways

India's fertilizers import under HS Code 3105 in Q1 2025 reveals heavy reliance on bulk commodity-grade products like diammonium phosphate, with Russia and Saudi Arabia dominating 80% of the value through infrequent, high-volume shipments. The market is highly concentrated, with just 4% of suppliers controlling 52% of import value, creating vulnerability to price volatility and supply chain disruptions. Quarterly trade swung sharply from $363M in January to $209M in February before rebounding to $370M in March, reflecting seasonal agricultural demand shifts. This analysis of India's HS Code 3105 trade data is based on cleanly processed customs records from the yTrade database for 2025 Q1.

India Fertilizers Import (HS 3105) Background

What is HS Code 3105?

HS Code 3105 covers mineral or chemical fertilizers containing two or three key nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other fertilizers in various forms. These products are critical for agricultural productivity, driving consistent global demand due to their role in crop yield optimization. India, as a major agricultural economy, relies heavily on imports under this code to meet domestic farming needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

As of Q1 2025, India’s import policies for HS Code 3105 fertilizers remain stable, with no major regulatory changes reported [Eximguru]. Basic customs duties hover around 5%, with additional levies varying by subcategory, reflecting a steady trade environment. India’s position as a top importer of these fertilizers underscores their strategic importance to the agricultural sector, with key suppliers including China, Poland, and Germany [Seair]. Monitoring India’s fertilizers import trends under HS Code 3105 is essential, given the country’s reliance on these inputs and potential shifts in global supply dynamics.

India Fertilizers Import (HS 3105) Price Trend

Key Observations

The India Fertilizers Import trend under HS Code 3105 for Q1 2025 totaled approximately 942 million USD, reflecting significant monthly volatility with values of 363 million USD in January, 209 million USD in February, and 370 million USD in March. This performance indicates a quarter marked by sharp fluctuations rather than steady growth or decline.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 3105 value trend shows a pronounced dip in February, dropping 43% from January's level, followed by a 77% surge in March to nearly match the quarter's opening high. This pattern suggests underlying market instability, likely driven by seasonal agricultural cycles in India, where reduced post-hinter demand in early Q1 gave way to pre-monsoon inventory builds by March, aligning with typical fertilizer stockpiling ahead of the Kharif planting season.

External Context and Outlook

According to recent analysis, India's import policies for fertilizers under HS Code 3105 remained stable in early 2025, with no major tariff revisions or regulatory shifts reported [Eximguru]. This policy continuity implies that the quarter's volatility stemmed from domestic factors like seasonal demand swings rather than external policy shocks, with outlook hinging on agricultural cycles and potential global supply chain adjustments. (Eximguru)

India Fertilizers Import (HS 3105) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's import activities under HS Code 3105 in Q1 2025 are heavily concentrated in diammonium phosphate (sub-code 31053000), which accounts for nearly half of the total import value. This product has a unit price of 7.23 USD per kilogram, indicating a mid-range specialty fertilizer compared to others. An extreme price anomaly is present in sub-code 31055900, with a unit price of 373.41 USD per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports can be grouped into three categories: NPK fertilizers (31052000), which are bulk commodities with low unit prices around 3.23 USD/kg; phosphate-based fertilizers like monoammonium phosphate (31054000) and others, with moderate prices; and miscellaneous formulations (31056000, 31059010, 31059090, 31051000, 31055100), which are typically standardized, fungible products traded based on global indices rather than brand differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

India's HS Code 3105 import structure suggests high dependence on bulk commodity fertilizers, limiting pricing power for buyers due to global market fluctuations. [Eximguru] indicates stable import duties, reinforcing that strategic focus should be on securing cost-effective long-term supply contracts rather than product differentiation.

Check Detailed HS Code 3105 Breakdown

India Fertilizers Import (HS 3105) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India's imports of fertilizers under HS Code 3105 in Q1 2025 are heavily concentrated, with Russia and Saudi Arabia as the dominant origins. Russia accounts for 41.38% of the import value and 37.15% of the weight, while Saudi Arabia holds 39.54% of the value and 35.87% of the weight. The higher value shares compared to weight shares for both countries indicate a focus on higher-grade or finished fertilizers, as they command premium prices per kilogram. Frequency shares are low for these dominants (2.40% for Russia, 0.80% for Saudi Arabia), pointing to large, infrequent bulk shipments rather than frequent small ones.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The origin countries cluster into three groups based on trade profiles. The first cluster includes Russia and Saudi Arabia, with high value and weight shares, reflecting their role as bulk suppliers of premium fertilizers due to their large-scale production capabilities. The second cluster features China and Spain, with high frequency shares (21.69% and 8.22% respectively) but low value and weight shares, suggesting frequent, small-scale shipments that may cater to diverse or niche market segments, such as specialized or retail-level fertilizer products. The remaining countries, like Jordan and Switzerland, have minimal shares and represent minor or opportunistic suppliers.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

India's heavy reliance on Russia and Saudi Arabia for fertilizers under HS Code 3105 creates supply chain risks, such as potential disruptions from geopolitical tensions or production issues. Diversifying sources, particularly by increasing imports from high-frequency clusters like China, could enhance stability. Current import policies remain stable with no major changes reported [Eximguru], supporting continued trade but underscoring the need for vigilance in monitoring global fertilizer market shifts to avoid over-dependency.

Table: India Fertilizers (HS 3105) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

India Fertilizers (HS 3105) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

India's 2025 Q1 Fertilizers import market under HS code 3105 is highly concentrated in value. According to yTrade data, a small group of bulk suppliers, responsible for just 4% of total shipments, delivers nearly 52% of the import value. This group handles the vast majority of the physical volume, accounting for 64% of the total quantity and 89% of the weight. This structure defines the typical trade for India Fertilizers Import suppliers as one dominated by large, infrequent bulk purchases.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier groups fill distinct roles. Companies with frequent, lower-value shipments account for over a quarter of all transactions but only a tiny fraction of the total value and volume, suggesting they supply specialized or niche products. The profile of HS code 3105 suppliers from the dominant bulk group, with names like PINNACLE GREEN ENTERPRISES DMCC and TRANSCOM DMCC, indicates an intermediated, agent-driven market where large trading firms manage the primary flow of commodity-grade material.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

This supplier structure creates a high dependency on a few bulk partners for India's fertilizer supply, presenting a significant vulnerability to supply chain disruptions or price volatility from these key agents. The strategic focus must be on managing these core relationships while developing secondary sources for niche products. This need for supply chain resilience is underscored by the current regulatory stability, as [Exim Guru] reports existing import duties and policies for these fertilizers have remained steady, though continuous monitoring of announcements from bodies like the DGFT is advised for any changes (Exim Guru).

Table: India Fertilizers (HS 3105) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Fertilizers Supplier lists

Action Plan for Fertilizers Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Fertilizers Import market under hs code 3105 trade data reveals a commodity-driven structure. Core price drivers are global index fluctuations and geopolitical risk, not product differentiation. The market depends heavily on bulk, non-branded products from a few key origins.

This creates significant supply chain implications. India's Fertilizers supply chain is vulnerable due to high concentration. A small group of bulk suppliers and two dominant countries (Russia, Saudi Arabia) control most volume. This structure limits buyer pricing power and increases exposure to global disruptions. Strategic focus must shift from product sourcing to supply security and contract management.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Fertilizers Market Execution and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant bulk cluster. Use hs code 3105 trade data to identify and qualify new partners from high-frequency clusters (e.g., China, Spain). This reduces over-dependency on a few large agents and mitigates supply disruption risks.
• Negotiate long-term contracts with key bulk suppliers using volume leverage. Anchor agreements to global price indices with fixed margins. This provides cost predictability and secures priority access amidst market volatility.
• Implement a dual-sourcing strategy for critical inputs like diammonium phosphate (31053000). Split volumes between the dominant origins (Russia, Saudi Arabia) and a qualified alternative. This builds resilience into the Fertilizers supply chain against geopolitical or logistical shocks.
• Monitor sub-code level hs code 3105 trade data monthly for price and volume anomalies. Set alerts for unusual spikes, like the 31055900 outlier. This allows for rapid procurement strategy adjustments to capitalize on short-term opportunities or avoid cost traps.
• Audit the entire Fertilizers supply chain for niche product requirements. Use import frequency data to identify specialized suppliers for low-volume, high-margin products. This ensures comprehensive coverage and prevents operational delays from missing minor components.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Fertilizers Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Fertilizers Import 2025 Q1?

India's fertilizer imports under HS Code 3105 in Q1 2025 saw sharp volatility, with a 43% drop in February followed by a 77% surge in March. This reflects seasonal agricultural cycles, including reduced post-harvest demand early in the quarter and pre-monsoon stockpiling ahead of the Kharif planting season.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of India Fertilizers (HS Code 3105) 2025 Q1?

Russia and Saudi Arabia dominate, accounting for 41.38% and 39.54% of import value, respectively. Both focus on large bulk shipments of higher-grade fertilizers, while China and Spain supply frequent, smaller niche shipments.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of India Fertilizers Import?

Price differences stem from product specialization: bulk NPK fertilizers (31052000) average 3.23 USD/kg, while phosphate-based types like monoammonium phosphate (31054000) command moderate prices. An outlier sub-code (31055900) reaches 373.41 USD/kg but is isolated.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Fertilizers?

Importers must secure long-term contracts with bulk suppliers like Russia and Saudi Arabia to mitigate price volatility while diversifying niche sources (e.g., China) for specialized products. The market’s reliance on a few bulk agents heightens supply chain risks.

Q5. What does this India Fertilizers import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Bulk suppliers (e.g., Russia, Saudi Arabia) hold pricing power due to India’s dependency, while niche suppliers (e.g., China) can capitalize on frequent small-scale demand. Stability in India’s import policies supports continued trade but requires monitoring geopolitical risks.

Q6. How is Fertilizers typically used in this trade flow?

Fertilizers under HS Code 3105 are primarily standardized, fungible products like diammonium phosphate and NPK blends, traded for agricultural use. Bulk commodities dominate, with global indices driving pricing rather than brand differentiation.

Detailed Monthly Report

India HS3105 Import Snapshot 2025 JAN

India HS3105 Import Snapshot 2025 FEB

India HS3105 Import Snapshot 2025 MAR