Strait of Hormuz fertiliser blockage threatens global food security, UN warns

A senior United Nations official has warned of severe threats to global food security in parts of Asia and Africa if the United States and Iran do not urgently approve a corridor for fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva said reaching an agreement within weeks is crucial before upcoming agricultural planting cycles begin. Missing the planting window would lead to a steep decline in farming output and trigger sharp food price increases across vulnerable regions.

Maritime traffic through the strategic waterway has faced severe disruption following the outbreak of the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has included exchanges of fire and vessel targeting. Historically, the strait handled approximately one-third of the global trade in urea—the world's leading nitrogen fertiliser—as well as nearly half of all seaborne sulphur exports. While limited shipping continues, the International Food Policy Research Institute notes that fertiliser transport has dropped to negligible amounts.

Under the UN proposal formulated in March, a coordination facility operated by UN personnel would be established in Oman. The centre would handle ship registrations and supervise safe transit. UN monitors would also partner with local port authorities in the Persian Gulf to oversee cargo loading, maintain vessel tracking, and conduct additional inspections if requested.

Moreira da Silva said the plan could become operational within seven to ten days once Washington and Tehran give their consent. Allowing just five cargo ships to pass daily would be sufficient to supply nations facing the most urgent shortages.

The initiative is designed to run in parallel with broader, currently stalled diplomatic efforts to secure navigation through the strait. Wider negotiations broke down following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire in June, with talks hindered by disputes over Tehran's prerequisites and Washington's push to prioritize Iran's nuclear development.

International agencies have previously raised alarms about the cascading effects of the maritime bottleneck. Earlier this year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization cautioned that limited access to nutrients would squeeze the worldwide food supply well into 2027, disproportionately harming nations already dealing with climate-related hardships. Agricultural communities in South Asia are currently coping with high prices and input shortages, while demonstrations over rising operational expenses have also surfaced in Europe.