Africa: The Hormuz Chokepoint Is Threatening Africa's Food Supply

Lead

The conflict that erupted in Iran in late February 2026 is sending shockwaves through global fertiliser markets, with significant implications for Africa's food security. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane next to Iran, has become a critical chokepoint for fertiliser trade, and the disruption is hitting African nations particularly hard.

According to Al Jazeera, the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is disrupting global fertiliser trade flows, threatening to leave millions of African farmers without essential inputs like ammonia, urea, phosphate, and sulphur. The outlet reports that fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz account for roughly one-quarter of global ammonia trade and more than a third of seaborne urea.

AllAfrica reports that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is down by 95% since the start of the war. This dramatic reduction has effectively prevented fertiliser produced in Gulf countries from leaving the region, creating a supply crisis for importing nations.

Coverage Comparison

Both Al Jazeera and AllAfrica highlight the same central concern: the conflict is disrupting fertiliser supplies and Africa's food systems stand to lose. The two outlets converge on several key facts, including the 80% import dependency of sub-Saharan Africa and the critical role of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the coverage differs in scope and emphasis. AllAfrica provides granular details on the impact, such as Iran being the fourth biggest global exporter of urea and Qatar halting urea production in early March 2026 due to gas plant damage. The outlet also notes that Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Tanzania, and North Africa all buy urea from Iran.

Al Jazeera places the crisis in a broader context, referencing past disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which drove fertiliser prices to record highs. The outlet also highlights the disproportionate impact on Africa's smallholder farmers, who produce nearly 70% of sub-Saharan Africa's food and have limited capacity to absorb price hikes.

A third article from AllAfrica takes a more policy-focused angle, arguing that the fertiliser disruption exposes a blind spot in farm-level policy. It emphasises Africa's own resources, noting Morocco leads in phosphates, accounting for over 50% of Africa's supply.

Key Claims

The most widely reported claim, carried by both Al Jazeera and AllAfrica, is that Africa's food systems rely heavily on fertiliser imports. Sub-Saharan Africa imports about 80% of the fertiliser it uses, according to both outlets. Al Jazeera adds that this import dependency often comes at much higher prices than in Europe due to freight, financing, and logistics costs.

A significant point reported by AllAfrica is that Iran is the fourth biggest global exporter of urea, a key fertiliser ingredient. Several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Tanzania, and North African nations, purchase urea from Iran.

Another claim carried by AllAfrica is that Qatar, another major urea producer, stopped making it in early March 2026 because its gas plants were hit by Iranian missiles. This has further tightened global supply.

The strait itself is a critical corridor for fertiliser trade. AllAfrica reports that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is down by 95% since the start of the war, while a separate AllAfrica article notes that almost 50% of globally traded sulphur used in phosphate fertilisers moves through the strait. Al Jazeera adds that fertiliser shipments through the strait account for more than a third of seaborne urea.

Prices are already reflecting the strain. According to AllAfrica, urea prices have surged from just under US$500 per tonne before the conflict to above US$700 per tonne in recent weeks. This price increase feeds directly into food prices and agricultural output, as reported by AllAfrica.

Al Jazeera reports that the African Development Bank Group launched the $1.5bn African Emergency Food Production Facility in 2022 to help countries respond to supply disruptions. The facility has supported nearly 16 million smallholder farmers in 35 countries.

The conflict's impact extends beyond nitrogen-based fertilisers. AllAfrica notes that the Middle East is a major hub for nitrogen-based fertilisers, reflecting local natural gas availability. The outlet also reports that even major producers like Morocco's OCP Group are affected, as fertiliser production relies on critical inputs like sulphur sourced from the Persian Gulf, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Perspectives

African Development Bank

The African Development Bank Group has taken a proactive stance, launching the $1.5bn African Emergency Food Production Facility in 2022. According to Al Jazeera, the facility has supported nearly 16 million smallholder farmers in 35 countries, indicating an institutional response to mitigate the impact of supply disruptions.

Policy advocates

A perspective carried by AllAfrica argues that Africa holds the resources to fix its fertiliser vulnerability. The outlet points to Morocco's phosphate dominance and Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria's nitrogenous fertiliser production as evidence that domestic production capacity exists but is insufficient to meet growing demand. This view suggests a need for policy focus on building self-sufficiency.