The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has delivered a severe blow to global fertilizer supply chains, with prices for key agricultural inputs rising 20-30% as Gulf export routes remain blocked. The strait is a critical conduit for ammonia and urea shipments from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — together among the world's largest fertilizer exporters.
The price spike is already reverberating through agricultural markets in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Latin America, where farmers depend on imported nitrogen fertilizers to sustain crop yields. Analysts warn that if the disruption persists through the spring planting season, downstream effects on food production could become significant by the third quarter of 2026.
TankerMap data shows bulk carrier and chemical tanker transits through the Hormuz corridor have fallen sharply since the conflict began. With 39 LNG export terminals and 36 oil export facilities monitored globally, the platform's data captures the cascading impact: vessels that previously loaded fertilizer feedstocks in the Gulf are now either rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope — adding weeks to voyage times — or sitting idle awaiting resolution of the crisis.