Southeast Asia faces ‘sleeper’ food crisis from Hormuz fertiliser bottleneck

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretary General John Denton has warned that Southeast Asia faces a potential hunger crisis due to a fertilizer shortfall and export restrictions. Speaking at the Future of Trade Forum in Singapore on Wednesday, Denton urged Singapore, as the incoming ASEAN chair, to address this "sleeper issue." He emphasized that the core problem is food security, despite broader attention on the Strait of Hormuz gridlock. Denton's warning highlights the risk of a creeping food crisis if the region does not proactively manage fertilizer supply and prevent export limitations.