Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated a global fertilizer crisis, disrupting the supply of nitrogenous fertilizers and sulfur to Brazil [1].
This disruption threatens the stability of the Brazilian agribusiness sector, which relies heavily on these imports to maintain crop yields and agricultural productivity. Because the region around the Strait of Hormuz produces key nitrogenous fertilizers and sulfur, the halt in shipments creates immediate shortages for farmers [1, 3].
Fernanda Pressinott, an editor and agricultural analyst for CNN Brasil, said that nitrogenous fertilizers are not arriving because they are produced in the Strait of Hormuz region. She said that sulfur, a necessary input for the production of phosphate fertilizers, is similarly unavailable [1].
Reports of the crisis emerged in May 2026. One report dated May 13, 2026, indicated that Brazil began seeking new fertilizer suppliers to mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict [2]. A subsequent report on May 28, 2026, detailed how the war in Iran has triggered this global fertilizer shortage [2].
The instability in the region has caused fertilizer production to collapse, leaving Brazilian producers vulnerable to price spikes and supply gaps [3]. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical maritime chokepoint, meaning any conflict there effectively severs the trade route for essential chemical inputs needed for large-scale farming.
Brazil is now forced to diversify its supply chain to avoid a prolonged agricultural slump. The government and private sector are evaluating alternative sources to replace the shipments that have ceased due to the regional violence [2].
“Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated a global fertilizer crisis.”
The crisis highlights the vulnerability of Brazil's food security and export economy to geopolitical instability in the Middle East. By relying on a single geographic chokepoint for essential inputs like nitrogen and sulfur, the Brazilian agricultural model faces significant systemic risk whenever regional conflicts disrupt maritime logistics.
