ICL Group has opened a specialty fertilizer plant in India, betting that localized production will help cushion supply disruptions in a market heavily reliant on imports.
The facility, located in the western state of Maharashtra, will produce water-soluble fertilizers, a higher-value segment used in precision agriculture. The company didn’t disclose the size of the investment.
The move comes as fertilizer producers contend with renewed strain on global shipping routes, including disruptions linked to instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for energy and commodity flows. Industry executives have increasingly pointed to logistics bottlenecks and geopolitical risks as reasons to shift production closer to end markets.
India, one of the world’s largest fertilizer consumers, imports a significant share of its nutrient needs, leaving it exposed to supply delays and price swings. By adding domestic production capacity, ICL aims to reduce its reliance on cross-border shipments and improve delivery times to local customers, the company said.
The plant covers roughly 28,000 square meters and is designed to mirror ICL’s production processes in Israel. Its output could reach up to 30,000 metric tons annually by 2029, though the company didn’t provide a timeline for ramp-up.
Water-soluble fertilizers, typically used in irrigated agriculture, have seen steady demand growth in India in recent years, according to industry estimates, as farmers adopt more targeted application methods to improve yields and reduce input use.
ICL, which reports more than $7 billion in annual revenue, has operated in India for over three decades and generates about $250 million a year from the market. The new facility could also serve as a base for exports over time, depending on market conditions.
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