Hormuz Disruption Sparks Global Fertilizer Crunch

The Iran conflict is delaying fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor carrying more than a third of global fertilizer trade, risking higher costs as spring planting approaches. Urea prices jumped about 30% in a week, and analysts warn ongoing shortages could lift U.S. food-at-home inflation by roughly 2 percentage points, possibly reducing crop yields if farmers cut fertilizer use. The global ripple could hit Asia and Africa, while fertilizer producers may benefit from higher prices.