New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- India plans to add 13.7 million tonnes (mt) of annual urea production capacity by 2030, taking domestic capacity to about 43.7mt as the country seeks to cut import dependence and shield farmers from volatile global fertilizer prices, according to two people aware of the development.

India's annual urea demand stands at around 40mt and is growing at about 5%. Domestic production meets roughly 75% of the country's requirement, with imports making up the balance. The expansion is intended to reduce that dependence as the escalating West Asia conflict drives up global fertilizer prices.

An estimated 43.5-43.7mt production will equivalent to roughly 90% of projected domestic demand of 48.61mt by 2030. Every 1mt of domes...