Higher fertilizer costs from Hormuz hostilities could affect planting decisions (CNA)

Channel News Asia (CNA) reports: Continued hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz have raised fears of a global food shock, as the waterway is a critical route for fertilizer shipments. About one-third of global seaborne fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients pass through the strait, and disruptions to exports of urea – the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertilizer – have already pushed prices up about 40 per cent, raising concerns about lower harvests for key crops such as corn, wheat and rice. Speaking to CNA’s Asia First, Joseph Glauber, research fellow emeritus at the International Food Policy Research Institute, said the surge in prices may prompt farmers to shift to crops that require less fertilizer, or apply smaller amounts, which could reduce production. However, he added that the scale of any global food price crisis will largely depend on how long energy and shipping disruptions last, as higher energy costs also increase transportation, processing and other expenses across the food supply chain.