# Urea: Production

Why India's ageing plants run above full capacity

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/production/

Why India's ageing plants run above full capacity What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.

| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| **World capacity** | world not retrieved; India reassessed capacity 26.94 Mt a year across 33 units |  | Department of Fertilizers via ETV Bharat (Dec 2025) |
| **World output** | about 201 Mt (2024) |  | IFA via DTN (Dec 2025) |
| **Capacity utilisation** | India above 100% of reassessed capacity (NFL 112.7% in FY2026) | Indian units made about 30.5 Mt a year against 26.94 Mt reassessed capacity; 27 of 33 units are over 25 years old. | NFL directors' report FY2026; ETV Bharat (2025) |
| **Concentration** | China about 35% of output (indicative); exports led by the Gulf, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and Russia | Firm concentration is low. Export supply is more concentrated: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman supplied 36.3% of reported export value in 2024 (Russia and Qatar not in reporter data). | Comtrade 2024 (reporter data); indicative |
| **New capacity** | India: Talcher coal-gas urea (1.27 Mt); global additions in Asia, Russia, Africa | Talcher Fertilizers was 67% complete in May 2025. India commissioned several 1.27 Mt gas-based plants (Ramagundam, Gorakhpur, Barauni, Sindri) in 2021-2022 (indicative). Low-carbon urea needs blue ammonia with retained CO2 or green ammonia plus captured CO2. | Department of Fertilizers via ETV Bharat (2025); indicative for commissioning years |

#### Top producing countries
 China 35% · about 70 Mt (2024, indicative) India 14.6% · 29.32 Mt (FY2026); 30.64 Mt (FY2025)

- **Russia**: not retrieved; major exporter
- **United States**: not retrieved; urea is the largest US ammonia derivative (USGS)
- **Indonesia**: not retrieved; Pupuk Kaltim alone 3.58 Mt (2025)
- **Qatar**: QAFCO 5.6 Mt capacity (2019)
 China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association figures as widely reported (indicative); Chambal MD&A FY2026 citing Department of Fertilizers; not retrieved; USGS MCS 2026; Fortune IDN (Jan 2026); Gulf Times (2019)

#### Largest producers: global

| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **QAFCO (QatarEnergy)** world's largest single site | Qatar | 5.6 Mt urea capacity, single site | 2019 | [Gulf Times (Nov 2019)](https://www.gulf-times.com/story/647329/qafco-is-worlds-largest-single-site-producer-of-ammonia-and-urea-al-kaabi) |
| **Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Indonesia)** | Indonesia | 3.58 Mt urea produced | 2025 | [Fortune IDN (Jan 2026)](https://www.fortuneidn.com/business/kinerja-produksi-solid-pupuk-kaltim-catat-6-67-juta-ton-di-2025-00-4vfn9-wvhbs4) |
| **CF Industries** urea tonnage not retrieved | US | not published | 2025 | [CF Industries 2025 results](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218721950/en/CF-Industries-Holdings-Inc.-Reports-Full-Year-2025-Net-Earnings-of-%241.46-Billion-Adjusted-EBITDA-of-%242.89-Billion) |
| **Nutrien** | Canada | 10.89 Mt nitrogen products sold (all forms) | 2025 | [Nutrien 2025 MD&A](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1725964/000119312526081326/d56746dex992.htm) |
| **Yara International** urea tonnage not retrieved | Norway | not published | 2025 | [Yara Q4 2025 report](https://mb.cision.com/Main/23640/4305594/3927811.pdf) |

#### Largest producers: India

| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **IFFCO** also nano urea | India | 4.83 Mt urea produced | FY2026 | [Indian Cooperative (2026)](https://www.indiancooperative.com/from-states/iffco-record-highest-profit-and-overall-performance-in-fy-2025-26/amp) |
| **National Fertilizers (NFL)** also runs import tenders | India | 3.64 Mt urea produced | FY2026 | [NFL directors' report FY2026](https://www.indiainfoline.com/company/national-fertilizer-ltd/reports/directors-report) |
| **Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals** | India | 3.37 Mt urea produced | FY2026 | [Chambal MD&A FY2026](https://www.indiainfoline.com/company/chambal-fertilisers-chemicals-ltd/management-discussions/3029) |
| **Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF)** | India | 2.11 Mt urea produced | FY2026 | [RCF directors' report FY2026](https://www.arihantcapital.com/company-information/directors-report/2297) |

India made 29.32 Mt and sold 39.64 Mt in FY2026, so imports rose from 5.65 Mt (FY2025) to 10.38 Mt (Chambal MD&A). By value India took 10.8% of world urea imports ($2.16 billion) in 2024 (Comtrade). Imports are canalised through state agencies (IPL, NFL, RCF).

#### Position by region

| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| **US** | Imports 9.3% of world urea by value ($1.87 billion, 5.10 Mt in 2024) despite large ammonia output; US Gulf (NOLA) is a key benchmark. |
| **EU** | High-cost producers on TTF gas; CBAM covers urea from 2026; EU tariffs on Russian fertilisers rising 2025-2028 (indicative). |
| **India** | Largest swing importer; imported 10.38 Mt in FY2026; farm price fixed at Rs 242 per 45 kg bag. |
| **China** | Largest producer, mostly coal-based; exports rationed by quota, about 4.9 Mt in 2025 (Reuters); quotas released in June 2026. |
| **Japan** | Small user and importer. |
| **Middle East** | Saudi Arabia (14.3%), Oman (9.6%) and Qatar lead exports; about 40% of seaborne urea passes Hormuz. |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/routes/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/links/index.md)