Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
Gulf countries account for 13% of global nitrogen exports and 9% of phosphate nutrients; the Hormuz closure disrupts this critical chain for producing fertilizers such as urea and ammonia (UNCTAD, 2026).
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell more than 95% (from over 100 vessels per day to fewer than 10), disrupting flows of oil, LNG and fertilizers essential for global agricultural production (UNCTAD, 2026).
The IMF warns that energy-importing Caribbean countries face balance of payments pressures due to rising oil and food prices; oil surpassed USD 100/barrel (+50% in one month), with additional risks for tourism- and remittance-dependent economies.
Targeted cash transfers reduce poverty approximately 2× more per dollar spent than universal subsidies in response to food price shocks.
45 million people could be pushed into acute hunger if the Iran conflict persists, as the poorest households spend between 50% and 70% of their income on food
85% of the fertilizers used in Brazil are imported, which explains the high exposure to international shocks (Agrolatam, 2026).
0% is the temporary tariff applied to the import of fertilizers to lower agricultural production costs in Brazil (Agrolatam, 2026).
Brazil will allocate $2.9 billion to a new plan to reduce the impact of rising fertilizer prices on agriculture (Agrolatam, 2026).
The approximate volume of the urea market in Argentina is 2,200,000 tons, with a significant part dependent on imports (La Nación, 2026).
60% of the urea used in Argentina is supplied by domestic production (Profertil), partially reducing external dependence (La Nación, 2026).
