UN says Hormuz fertiliser deal must come within weeks to protect planting season
UN under-secretary-general Jorge Moreira da Silva says the US and Iran must agree within weeks to a UN-backed plan for fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, or parts of Asia and Africa risk a food-security crisis. The mechanism, devised by a UN task force, could begin within 7–10 days of an agreement; the FAO separately warns that disrupted supplies threaten harvests and food supplies in late 2026 and 2027.
Bottom line — An ICC report estimates cereal prices could rise by up to 81% if Hormuz disruption continues.
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Reuters reporting carried by The New Arab says the UN plan would register ships at a coordination centre in Oman and verify cargo loading with local authorities.
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Moreira da Silva said five vessels a day could keep fertiliser moving to countries in critical need.
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An August report by the International Chamber of Commerce estimates possible price rises of up to 66% for oil crops and 30% for animal products.
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The FAO says even a delay of a few weeks can force farmers to cut fertiliser use or skip application, with effects carried into later harvests.
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The FAO identifies import-dependent countries in Africa, Asia and parts of the Middle East as particularly exposed.
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The ICC says its modelling is an early-stage, non-peer-reviewed scenario study, not a forecast; it estimates cereal productivity could fall by up to 10% under higher-severity conditions.