GoKawiilIran conflict pushes global fertilizer prices toward 2022 highs
Rising natural gas prices tied to the Iran conflict have driven up urea prices, which briefly exceeded $850 per metric ton in April—80% above pre-conflict levels and the highest since the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted markets in 2022. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a third of global seaborne fertilizer trade passes, has been effectively shut to commercial shipping, threatening supply to some of the world's poorest nations.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Because natural gas serves as both fuel and raw material for ammonia-based fertilizers, geopolitical shocks in energy markets translate almost directly into food-production costs worldwide. Poorer countries dependent on imported fertilizer face the sharpest exposure, while companies like Pivot Bio are pitching microbial alternatives as a hedge against this volatile supply chain.
- Urea prices spiked 80% above pre-conflict levels amid the Iran conflict, nearing 2022's record highs.
- About a third of global seaborne fertilizer trade transits the now-blocked Strait of Hormuz.
- Fertilizer production itself contributes roughly 2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, compounding the crisis's stakes.
Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Granular Fertilizer — With synthetic nitrogen fertilizer prices tied to natural gas markets, organic alternatives look more appealing for home gardeners. Jobe's Organics granular fertilizer feeds vegetables, flowers, and shrubs using plant- and mineral-based ingredients instead of ammonia made from fossil fuels. It's an easy way to keep your garden fed while sidestepping the volatility described in the article.
See Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Granular Fertilizer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: technologyreview.com — Casey Crownhart, 2026-09-03
Published there as: “Agriculture relies on fossil fuels. It’s costing us.”
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