Yara cuts India fertilizer output as conflict in the Middle East disrupts gas supply

Yara International has reduced ammonia and urea production at its plant in Babrala, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, due to disruptions to natural gas supplies linked to the ongoing conflict. Chief Executive Svein Tore Holsether said the company was forced to curb output due to reduced availability of gas, a key feedstock, while some competitors in India have shut plants entirely.

India, a major importer of liquefied natural gas, has been particularly exposed to supply shocks following the suspension of a significant share of exports from the Persian Gulf. Qatar, one of the world’s largest LNG suppliers, has halted production, driving sharp increases in gas and fertilizer prices. Holsether warned that volatility in input costs is raising concerns about global fertilizer availability and farmers’ ability to afford essential nutrients, although Yara said the impact on its financial performance would remain limited.

The company is not currently considering production cuts in Europe, where higher urea prices have so far offset rising gas costs. Meanwhile, policy discussions are intensifying in the European Union over how to support agriculture. Istvan Nagy has called for easing restrictions on Russian and Belarusian fertilizer imports, a proposal the European Commission is reviewing. Yara has opposed the idea, arguing it could undermine Europe’s domestic industry and indirectly support Russia’s war effort, as the bloc prepares a broader Fertilizer Action Plan to strengthen supply resilience.