US EditionIran War Sparks Global Fertilizer Shortage, Threatens Food Prices
Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts nearly one-third of global fertilizer trade, threatening crop yields and raising food costs as planting season begins, experts warn.
- On Monday, Tehran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz have escalated conflict and limited fertilizer shipments through this critical passage, creating immediate global supply shortages during peak planting season.
- Nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers face immediate threats from shipping delays, as the conflict has restricted about 30% of global urea trade, said Chris Lawson of CRU Group, a London-based commodities consultancy.
- Specific regions face severe dependencies: Ethiopia receives over 90% of its nitrogen fertilizer from the Gulf, while India provides manufacturers with about 70% of their natural gas needs for urea production.
- "Our crops out in the field need nitrogen now," said Dirk Peters, an agricultural engineer outside Berlin, noting that short delays can reduce maize yields by about 4% in a season.
- Long-Term agricultural resilience may require reduced reliance on imports to protect farmers from energy price swings, according to Oliver Oliveros, executive coordinator of the Agroecology Coalition.
30 Articles
30 Articles
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