The world may face a new food crisis - even more severe than after the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022
The war in the Middle East has disrupted fertilizer supply, which is crucial to the global food system. An attack on Iran has caused some major nitrogen fertilizer production facilities to shut down, with about half of the supply interrupted. Over 1.1 million tons of fertilizer are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, either on ships or in ports.
Surging natural gas prices have further worsened the situation, as fertilizers are produced using natural gas. What is known so far is:
- Factories in Pakistan and Bangladesh have stopped production;
- India has cut back on the amount of natural gas used for fertilizer production;
- Qatar's largest fertilizer producer, "Qatar Fertilizer Company," has halted production.
Fertilizer prices have risen by more than 40%. If the conflict continues, it will significantly affect the harvest of major food crops such as rice and may trigger another round of soaring food prices.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859652098651148/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself