Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
45% of sulfur, an essential raw material for phosphate fertilizers, passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
30% was the decline in global fertilizer trade by volume during the first four months of 2026 due to the war in the Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and export restrictions.
In the Niño 3.4 region (central equatorial Pacific), El Niño would develop from June 2026 to March 2027. For the summer of 2026-2027, the event is estimated to reach a magnitude between strong (44%) and moderate (36%). (Multisectoral Commission in Charge of the National Study of the El Niño Phenomenon, 2026).
More than 0.5 °C was the weekly average sea surface temperature anomaly in the equatorial Pacific, the main threshold used to identify El Niño conditions.
11 to 16 named storms are projected by AccuWeather for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season; with El Niño arriving early, the forecast is leaning closer to 11 than to 16.
30-40% is AccuWeather’s estimated probability that the event could evolve into a rare “Super El Niño”, with conditions potentially lasting through 2026 and even into 2027.
It increased by 6.6% compared to the level in April 2026. It averaged 95.1 points in May 2026. (FAO, 2026). The increase is due to a possible shortage of supplies in the coming months (a possible lower sugar production in Brazil and possible effects of El Niño on sugar production in India and Thailand in 2026/27).
It decreased by 0.2% compared to the revised level of April 2026. It averaged 130.8 points in May 2026. (FAO, 2026).
It increased by 2.6% compared to the level of April 2026. It averaged 114.3 points in May 2026. The increase reflected lower expected harvests in major exporters, and higher fuel and fertilizer costs. (FAO, 2026).
US$9 billion went to new research into boosting farm yields, up from US$2.5 billion in 2016.
