Hormuz Closure Exposes Global Fertilizer Supply Chain Vulnerability

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz for six months has disrupted global fertilizer transit, impacting agricultural markets and food security. Despite recent price declines, the situation remains critical. The crisis highlights the discrepancy between knowledge of such risks and actual preparedness. The disruption affects not only oil and gas but also fertilizers and food, exerting significant pressure on agricultural markets. The past six months since the war began have demonstrated agriculture's extreme vulnerability to fertilizer supply chain disruptions, especially following prior crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, regional wars, and repeated climate-related events. The article argues that the most alarming lesson is the gap between awareness and preparation for such emergencies.