Economy
Hormuz blockade sparks global fertilizer shortages, higher food prices
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian regimes has sparked a global fertilizer crisis that threatens mass crop failures and soaring food prices worldwide.
![A container ship Marsa Victory sails in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman’s northern Musandam peninsula on June 25, 2025. [Giuseppe Cacace/AFP]](/gc1/images/2026/04/05/55361-hormuz-600_384.webp)
By Noureddine Omar |
The closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian regime is threatening global food prices and farmers worldwide.
Global trade has been severely disrupted by the halt of fertilizer shipments through the Strait, since the operation against the regime began on February 28.
Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iran are critical hubs in the global fertilizer supply chain.
About one-third of the global fertilizer trade, especially nitrogen-based product, passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Nations.
Estimates show that around 30% of exportable fertilizer supplies, including those from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and also Iran, are currently unavailable on the market.
Nitrogen fertilizer prices increase
"Agricultural crops worldwide rely heavily on several types of chemical fertilizers, especially phosphates, potash and nitrogen," agricultural engineer Fakhri Attallah, a research consultant at the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, told Al-Fassel.
The critical issue is that farmers can withstand the lack of phosphates and potash for at most two seasons, but the absence of nitrogen-based fertilizers, he stressed, "means eliminating all types of crops".
Nitrogen fertilizer prices, linked to natural gas, are up 50% in futures contracts, reflecting similar rises in other fertilizer types.
Analysts note that the price of granular urea (FOB) in Egypt, a worldwide benchmark for nitrogen fertilizer, has risen sharply.
Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a global price surge are driving the price spike.
Prices have reached $700 per metric ton, up from a range of $400 to $490 before the war.
"Disruptions to fertilizer supplies threaten global food security by reducing agricultural output and increasing food prices, exacerbated by rising oil-linked transportation costs," Attallah said.
Warnings of looming food insecurity
Analysts warn that severe supply constraints caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade will trigger soaring global food prices and imminent food insecurity.
"Food supplies are interconnected across many countries, particularly those that export fertilizers and, in turn, import essential commodities like wheat and corn," said Mai Abdul Rahman, an international affairs expert.
"Therefore, the potential impact on food security presents a genuine threat to the national security of numerous countries," she added.
Internal unrest could broaden security instability, directly serving the Iranian regime’s interests across the Gulf, the Middle East, and North and East Africa.
Global security hinges on agricultural production; its collapse would allow the Iranian regime and its proxies to pose a real threat to the region, Abdul Rahman said.
May Allah protect the world!
May Allah relieve us!
I did not like this, because the reason for the closure of the strait is the United States and Israel. However, you do not like to speak the truth; you merely want to try to hide the sun behind a sieve.
No, I don't like it
Why has the world reached this level of misunderstanding regarding the future of international relations? Has the world lost its peaceful mindset? Has it exhausted all peaceful solutions, leaving only military options? Has it not learned from the painful experiences of the First and Second World Wars? All the signs emerging now point towards the destruction of the world. Beware, no one in the world will escape these military solutions. So take heed, you wise people...
That is absolutely true—prices have skyrocketed. May Allah bring relief to the land and its people!
It is outrageous, prices that ruin households and wreck the economy
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital lifeline for all the Gulf states; its closure would be detrimental to everyone without exception. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all parties to convene and determine, through partnership, how the Strait is to be managed. Reliance on mere agreements, which are often ineffective and liable to collapse at the slightest sign of trouble, is insufficient, particularly given the treacherous nature of the Iranians, who are prone to blowing minor issues out of proportion.
The Strait of Hormuz has been open for ages. Now, after the war between Iran and America ends, it will revert to being an international waterway, not controlled by a single country.
Allah, grant us security and safety for all lands.
Amen, O Lord of the Worlds!
I hope that all the crises in the world are resolved, for we are the ones who have tasted the reality of war and its hardships more than anyone else.
The Iranian regime, which controls vital waterways like Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, must be eliminated. Of course, eliminating this regime will come at a cost, and we must be patient with that cost until the world is free from Iranian influence.
Diplomatic channels are preferable out of compassion for the people
Closing the Strait was a response to 100 attacks, not an attack itself. The invaders came; no one went and attacked them. They occupied two countries and wanted a third, so it was a disaster for them. Praise be to Allah.
Enough of war, we are tired. Allah is with us, Allah will grant us victory.
Thank you for this topic.
May Allah not grant you success.
This strait is international; its closure is prohibited, and anyone who closes it is a criminal against humanity.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz will impact the global economy in its entirety. Therefore, rational voices worldwide must intervene to stop this conflict; ultimately, it will have a profound effect, specifically on the nations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and on the global economy at large, as everyone stands to suffer.
I like it.