Iran Conflict Disrupts Fertilizer Shipments, Raising Concerns for U.S. Farmers

A conflict impacting shipping routes in the Middle East is beginning to ripple through the U.S. agriculture industry, raising concerns for farmers heading into the crucial spring planting season.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a key global shipping corridor — are affecting the transport of materials used to produce fertilizer, as well as finished fertilizer products themselves.

Industry experts say the waterway is responsible for moving about half of the world’s supply of Urea, a key nitrogen fertilizer used for crops such as corn. It also handles roughly one-third of global exports of Ammonia, another essential ingredient in crop production, along with shipments of Sulfur.

Since shipping through the strait has slowed dramatically, fertilizer prices in the United States have surged by several hundred dollars per ton, putting additional financial pressure on farmers already facing low crop prices.

According to the The Fertilizer Institute, the United States imports roughly 35 percent of its fertilizer supply each year. Much of that fertilizer arrives just in time for spring applications between March and May.

Experts warn that higher prices and limited supply could force farmers to adjust their plans — including planting crops that require less fertilizer or reducing fertilizer use altogether.

Those changes could ultimately affect crop yields and potentially drive up food prices if production falls.

Agriculture analysts say the situation highlights how global conflicts and supply chain disruptions can quickly impact food production and farm economics in the United States.