SIR, Recent conflicts in the Middle East have placed renewed focus on the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints for energy and commodity trade. While attention has understandably focused on oil and gas, disruptions in this corridor could also affect the global supply of fertilisers, a cornerstone of modern agriculture.
Fertilisers are essential to feeding the world. Research shows that roughly half of the global population depends on crops grown with manufactured fertilisers. When fertiliser supply is disrupted, the consequences are felt directly in farmers’ fields and ultimately in global food availability.
The Middle East plays a pivotal role in global fertiliser trade. In 2024, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain together accounted for 23% of global ammonia trade, 34% of global urea trade, and 18% of global ammoniated phosphate trade. Across the wider region, the Middle East supplied close to 30% of global exports of major fertilisers.
Urea — the most widely traded nitrogen fertiliser — is particularly exposed. In 2024, nearly 18.5 million tonnes of urea were exported via the Strait of Hormuz. Any prolonged disruption to shipping in this corridor would quickly ripple through global fertiliser markets.
Energy markets add another layer of vulnerability. Nitrogen fertilisers are produced from ammonia, which relies heavily on natural gas as both hydrogen feedstock and energy source. Volatility in energy prices therefore directly affects fertiliser production costs, particularly in higher-cost regions such as Europe.
Phosphate supply chains are also tied to the Strait. Around 18% of global trade in ammoniated phosphates moves through Hormuz, while nearly half of global sulfur trade passes through the same route. Sulfur is a critical raw material in phosphate fertiliser production, meaning disruptions could affect the phosphate fertiliser value chain.
If disruptions to energy and fertiliser trade routes persist, the impacts will be felt most strongly in countries that depend on imported fertilisers. Smallholder farmers in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are particularly vulnerable, as fertiliser availability and affordability directly influence crop yields and food production.
For these reasons, maintaining stable fertiliser supply chains is essential. Reliable access to fertilisers helps farmers sustain crop production, supports global food stability, and strengthens resilience in the face of geopolitical shocks.
At a time of heightened uncertainty, it is critical that policymakers recognize fertilisers as a strategic component of global food systems and work to keep key agricultural supply chains functioning smoothly. Ensuring that fertilisers can move reliably across borders and through major maritime routes is essential to supporting farmers and safeguarding food security worldwide.
The International Fertilizer Association (IFA)
Share