Asia faces food crisis after Iran strikes disrupt Strait of Hormuz

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have caused shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to collapse, triggering a food crisis in Asia. The strait carries one-third of globally traded fertiliser, one-quarter of seaborne oil, and a major share of LNG, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertiliser. Fuel, freight, and fertiliser costs are rising sharply due to skyrocketing insurance premiums. The disruption coincides with crucial planting windows for Asian farmers, exposing the region's dependencies. A ceasefire would offer limited relief as disrupted contracts, supply chains, and insurance markets cannot be restored quickly, and no international strategic fertiliser reserves exist to cushion the shock.