Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:12am on 01 May 2026,Friday International
The ongoing Iran conflict is triggering a wider food security crisis across Asia by disrupting fertiliser supplies. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global fertiliser trade has sharply reduced exports from the Gulf, pushing urea prices up over 40%. At the same time, China, the world’s largest fertiliser producer, has restricted exports to protect domestic food security. This dual shock is hitting Southeast Asian agriculture hard, especially in countries like Vietnam and Philippines, which depend heavily on imports. Farmers are cutting planting, raising concerns about reduced rice output and cascading food supply disruptions across the region. (PC: BBC)
