Iran War Disrupts Fertilizer Supply
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Mar 18, 2026 · Last updated Mar 19, 2026
The war in Iran, initiated by the United States and Israel, has severely disrupted global fertilizer supply chains, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a significant spike in fertilizer prices and potential shortages for farmers in the United States. This situation, compounded by previous supply issues from the Ukraine-Russia war and China's export cuts, is increasing input costs for farmers like Todd Littleton and Tom Waters, potentially leading to higher food prices due to increased transportation and packaging costs, as noted by Chad Hart.
A recent war in Iran, sparked by an attack from the United States and Israel on February 28, has caused a significant slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global oil and natural gas. This disruption has led to a sharp increase in fertilizer prices and limited access to key fertilizer ingredients, severely impacting farmers in the United States. Farmers like Todd Littleton are facing a 40% increase in fertilizer costs, and there are concerns about the availability of fertilizer for spring planting, as highlighted by Zippy Duvall and Harry Ott. This situation exacerbates existing supply issues caused by the Ukraine-Russia war and China's phosphate export cuts. Experts like Jacqui Fatka do not expect a quick resolution to the high prices. The United States — United States Department of Agriculture and the Trump administration have taken some measures, including aid payments and efforts to increase imports from Venezuela, but these are seen as insufficient to fully offset the rising costs for farmers.
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