FAO Chief Warns Hormuz Disruption Could Threaten Global Food Supply Chains
Addressing the opening of the 181st Session of the FAO Council in Rome, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said the situation underscores the increasing fragility of global agrifood systems, particularly their dependence on energy supplies, fertilizers and other essential agricultural inputs.
"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a regional issue—it is a global food security risk," Qu said, noting that a significant share of global crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizer exports pass through the strategic waterway.
He called for measures to safeguard trade flows and reduce disruptions to agricultural supply chains.
"In the immediate term, we have called for keeping trade open, avoiding export restrictions on all agricultural inputs, protecting humanitarian food corridors, and securing alternative logistics routes," he said.
Qu stressed that the most urgent threat is not necessarily a shortage of food itself but the possibility of a major disruption in fertilizer availability and agricultural production. He warned that higher input costs could place heavy pressure on farmers across Asia, Africa and Latin America, potentially affecting planting decisions and crop yields.
According to reports, the FAO estimates that between 20% and 30% of global fertilizer trade, along with substantial volumes of energy products and sulfur shipments, move through the Strait of Hormuz, making the waterway a critical link in the global food production network.
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