Fertilizer supply risks rise in Türkiye as Hormuz disruptions deepen

Rising tensions in the Middle East and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are creating a more serious risk for Türkiye's fertilizer market, which relies heavily on imports. Hurriyet Daily News reported that prolonged instability is now exposing clearer dangers for Turkish agriculture.

Arslan Soydan, a board member of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers, warned that continued disruption in sulfur supply could push farmers toward alternative fertilizers. He said that shift could weaken both crop quality and yields if sulfur-based products become harder to secure.

Industry representatives told the paper that logistical bottlenecks in fertilizer imports and exports are already straining supply chains. Some companies are struggling to procure product while others are offering existing stocks at higher prices. The article says the conflict has disrupted around 30 percent of global fertilizer trade, nearly 40 percent of urea supply and roughly 50 percent of sulfur trade.

The report also cites a Financial Times assessment that slower shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has hurt the global sulfur supply. Sulfur is a key raw material in phosphate fertilizers used for crops such as corn, soybeans, rice and palm oil, and reduced fertilizer use, especially in lower-income countries, raises the risk of lower agricultural productivity.

For Türkiye, the exposure is especially high because sulfur- and phosphate-based fertilizers are widely used in hazelnuts, kiwis, vegetables and cereals, while the country depends on imports for about 90 percent of its chemical fertilizer production. Soydan said supply problems during peak use periods, particularly in winter and in February and March, could become more severe, and he warned that lower fertilizer use would likely mean lower yields and reduced quality.

Agronom.Info