Fertile gains for fertiliser shares on higher subsidy

Seven fertiliser shares rose between 3.24% and 14.53% on reports that the government has provided fertiliser subsidy of Rs 95000 crore for 2008/09, much higher from earlier budget estimates of Rs 31000 crore.

Tata Chemicals (up 4.29% to Rs 395.10), Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals (up 2.74% to Rs 46.80), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (up 3.90% to Rs 70.55), Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals (up 3.60% to Rs 79.15), Gujarat State Fertiliser Corporation (up 6.11% to Rs 176.25), Zuari Industries (up 3.24% to Rs 235.55), and National Fertiliser (up 14.53% to Rs 54.40), advanced.

Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals clocked volumes of 59.20 lakh shares, Nagarjuna Fertilisers saw volumes of 28.30 lakh shares while 3.44 lakh shares changed hands on the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers counter on BSE.

Fertiliser shares had risen in a weak market yesterday, 27 May 2008, when the news of higher subsidy hit the market during trading hours. On that day, Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals rose 2.36% to Rs 45.55, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers gained 1.04% to Rs 67.90, and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals jumped 6.85% to Rs 76.40

The substantially higher subsidy bill is a part of the strategy of the government to safeguard farmers from sharp price spiral for both raw materials and finished fertilisers in the global market.

Meanwhile, the government's new fertiliser investment policy is likely to be finalised in the next two to three weeks. The new policy will aim at linking production cost of new fertiliser units to the international prices, in order to encourage fresh investments in the sector.