Iran War To Spike US Grocery Costs, Threaten Global Food Crisis

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Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday that there is growing concern that the rising price of fertilizer caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to a global food crisis.

As Al Jazeera explained, almost half of the global supply of urea, the most commonly used fertilizer, is shipped from Middle Eastern nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

With the strait closed by Iran in response to US and Israeli attacks, Al Jazeera wrote,“urea export prices from the Middle East have surged by about 40%, rising from just less than $500 to a little more than $700 per metric ton as of last Friday.”

Al Jazeera also cited an estimate from data and analytics firm Kpler projecting that up to one-third of the global fertilizer trade could be disrupted if the strait remains closed for a prolonged period.

Carl Skau, deputy executive director and chief operating officer of the World Food Program, warned on Tuesday that the Iran war could push millions of people into extreme hunger should it persist.

“If this conflict continues, it will send shockwaves across the globe, and families who already cannot afford their next meal will be hit the hardest,” said Skau.“Without an adequately funded humanitarian response, it could spell catastrophe for millions already on the edge.”

WFP said the disruption in fertilizer markets offers“the most recent proof that conflict is the number one driver of hunger.”

“Conflict forces people from their homes, destroys infrastructure, fuels inflation, and wipes out jobs,” said the agency.“All of this makes it nearly impossible for people to find or afford enough food to survive. And children are always hit hardest: A child living in a country ravaged by conflict is more than twice as likely to be malnourished and out of school than their peers in peaceful settings.”