The Indian Railways recorded a significant 37% year-on-year rise in fertiliser transportation during September 2025, underscoring its crucial role in ensuring the timely supply of essential farm inputs ahead of the Rabi sowing season.
Data from the Ministry of Railways shows that the national transporter moved 6.37 million tonnes of fertilisers in September, compared to 4.60 million tonnes during the same month last year. Officials said the sharp increase reflects proactive measures to move fertilisers early to agricultural hubs across the country.
During the first half of FY26 (April–September 2025), the rail coefficient for fertiliser movement stood at nearly 87%, reaffirming the Railways’ dominant role in transporting bulk commodities and meeting seasonal agricultural demand.
Fertiliser traffic also made a strong contribution to the Railways’ freight earnings. Out of the ₹13,646.39 crore in total freight revenue earned in September, fertiliser transport accounted for ₹790.25 crore, or 5.79%, up by 1.65 percentage points from the same period last year.
Key loading points for fertiliser shipments included Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Kandla, and Mundra ports, along with terminals operated by KRIBHCO and other major fertiliser suppliers.
The strong growth in fertiliser logistics underscores Indian Railways’ pivotal role in supporting the agricultural supply chain and ensuring timely distribution ahead of the Rabi season.
