Global food price shock looms as Middle East conflict disrupts critical supply routes. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital artery not just for oil and gas, but for fertilizers essential to global agriculture. Disruptions through this chokepoint could rapidly translate into higher farming costs, reduced crop yields, and ultimately more expensive food worldwide. Countries most immediately at risk include Gulf nations heavily dependent on maritime imports, with wealthier states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia able to absorb costs through alternative air and overland routes. However, poorer neighbors including Iraq and Iran face potential scarcity. The greatest vulnerability extends to Sub-Saharan Africa, where farmers rely heavily on imported fertilizers and households spend significant portions of income on food.
