Urea
The world's most used nitrogen fertiliser, 46% N, made from ammonia and CO2; India is its biggest subsidised buyer and swing importer.
Commodity chemicals · Nitrogen & phosphate chemicals · No. 19
- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 201 Mt a year (2024)
- 1.0 t CO₂e per t
- HS 310210
Indian farmers pay a fixed Rs 242 a bag for urea, so when India runs short, world prices jump.
Chart: Illustration: Urea
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Urea is ammonia reacted with the CO2 from its own ammonia plant at 140-200 bar, then prilled or granulated; about 201 Mt was made in 2024.
Three things to know
- Urea is 46% nitrogen and ships as dry bulk, which makes it the cheapest nitrogen to move and spread.
- India made 29.32 Mt of urea in FY2026 but sold 39.64 Mt, so imports nearly doubled from 5.65 Mt to 10.38 Mt.
- Each tonne carries 0.733 t of CO2 that escapes once spread, so its field footprint exceeds its factory one.
The journey
- 1 Ammonia plant0.567 t ammonia per tonne urea
- 2 CO2 capture0.733 t CO2 from the same plant
- 3 SynthesisReacted at 140-200 bar into urea
- 4 FinishingPrilled or granulated; neem coated in India
- 5 Bulk shippingAbout 40% passes through Hormuz
- 6 FarmSpread on fields at subsidised prices