Not just energy: How the Iran war could trigger a global food crisis

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sarah ShamimMarch 18, 2026 at 01:23 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Amid the ongoing war in Iran in March 2026, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has disrupted shipping and caused oil prices to surge. Experts warn of a looming global food crisis due to a fertilizer shortage. The Strait of Hormuz is a key export route for fertilizers, with Gulf countries supplying a significant portion of the world's urea. Disruptions to gas supplies and shipping have forced fertilizer plants in the Gulf and beyond to cut production. Urea export prices from the Middle East have surged by approximately 40 percent. If the Strait of Hormuz closure persists, as much as one-third of global fertilizer trade could be disrupted.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 40% Bangladesh 40% India 50% QatarEnergy 50% Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO) 55% Qatar ×260% Ebrahim Jabari 60% Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) 70% Gulf countries 75% Iran ×290% Strait of Hormuz ×595%

Keywords

fertiliser shortage 100% food security 90% strait of hormuz 90% urea 80% iran war 80% oil prices 70% gulf countries 60% gas supplies 60% food production 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Strait of Hormuz

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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fertiliser shortage food security strait of hormuz urea iran war oil prices gulf countries gas supplies food production

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