The United Nations has warned that disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a severe global food crisis, as restricted energy flows push up fertilizer costs and disrupt critical agricultural supply chains.
The warning comes amid reports that tanker traffic through the strategic maritime corridor, located south of Iran, has effectively slowed to a standstill, raising alarm over knock-on effects for food production in vulnerable regions.
According to UN officials, the disruption is intensifying pressure on global fertilizer markets at a critical moment in the agricultural calendar, particularly for Africa and other import-dependent regions where planting seasons are already underway or nearing completion.
In normal conditions, the Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-third of global fertilizer trade, around 35 per cent of crude oil shipments, and about a fifth of liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it one of the world’s most important energy and commodities chokepoints.
However, with shipping flows now severely constrained, the resulting spike in gas prices is driving up fertilizer production costs, while energy shortages are forcing producers and logistics operators to prioritise higher-paying industrial and energy buyers over agricultural users.
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The United Nations has warned that this imbalance risks deepening food insecurity in already fragile economies, where farmers are heavily dependent on imported fertilizers to maintain yields.
“We cannot afford to wait,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which supports global infrastructure, procurement and project management initiatives. “The risk of a major food crisis is real.”
Moreira da Silva stressed that immediate coordination between governments, shipping operators, and energy suppliers was essential to ensure the uninterrupted flow of fertilizer and related agricultural inputs.
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“If we don’t get some solution immediately, the crisis will be very significant and severe, particularly for the poorest countries and for the poorest citizens,” he warned.
In response to the growing crisis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has established a dedicated task force aimed at facilitating the safe passage of fertilizers and raw materials considered essential for humanitarian food production.
The mechanism is intended to prioritise agricultural shipments in global logistics networks currently under strain, ensuring that critical inputs reach farming regions before the end of key planting cycles.
The UN said the initiative would focus on coordinating with maritime authorities, energy producers, and major trading partners to prevent further bottlenecks and stabilise supply chains.
The timing of the disruption has raised particular concern among food security experts. In many African countries, the planting season is already under way and is expected to conclude by May. Any prolonged shortage of fertilizers during this window could significantly reduce harvests later in the year.
Analysts warn that the combination of high energy prices, shipping delays, and supply prioritisation for industrial users could result in reduced fertilizer availability, lower crop yields, and rising food prices in import-dependent economies.
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The UN’s warning against food insecurity
The UN has repeatedly cautioned in recent years that global food systems remain highly exposed to geopolitical shocks affecting energy and maritime trade routes. The current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, officials say, highlights the fragility of interconnected supply chains linking energy markets to food production.
Humanitarian agencies have also raised concerns that the crisis could disproportionately affect low-income countries, where farmers lack the financial capacity to absorb sharp increases in fertilizer prices or switch to alternative inputs.
The UN task force is expected to issue further operational guidance in the coming days as it engages with member states and private sector actors to restore stability to the affected supply chains.
For now, officials warn that without rapid international coordination, the disruption could translate into a broader food security emergency affecting millions of people across vulnerable regions.
