Global fertiliser trade has fallen by 30% in the first four months of 2026.
Global fertiliser trade has fallen by 30% in the first four months of 2026 as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to disrupt critical shipping routes and drive up prices.
This is according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which raised concerns about the sharp decline resulting in higher food prices and increased pressure on farmers worldwide, including in South Africa.
According to the FAO, global fertiliser trade volumes dropped from 58 million tonnes between January and April 2025 to 41 million tonnes during the same period this year. Prices increased by an average of 25% between February and May as supplies tightened and several major producer countries restricted exports.
The disruption has largely been linked to the war in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping corridor through which roughly one-third of the world's fertiliser trade normally passes. The route is also crucial for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, a key ingredient in the production of nitrogen-based fertilisers.
