Fertiliser prices have risen by up to 50% due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Omissions

• The FAO figure of 20% is a projection for the full year 2026; actual realised price increases by May 2026 may differ from this estimate.
• The claim does not specify which fertiliser products rose by 50%, nor the time window over which the increase was measured (e.g., from pre-crisis baseline to peak, or year-on-year).
• No primary official source (Eurostat, World Bank fertiliser price index) was found in the available searches confirming the 50% figure for any specific fertiliser type.
• Several sources consulted were published in March–April 2026; the MEP could have been aware of these at the session date of 19 May 2026, but more recent data may have been available by then.

Sources

• SecondaryCarnegie Endowment for International PeaceAbout one-third of global seaborne trade in fertilizers typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been nearly entirely closed. The article states that even if the Strait reopens soon, restarting production and transport for fertilizers could take weeks.
• SecondaryCNBCThe closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent fuel and fertilizer prices skyrocketing, with the article reporting that fertiliser prices surged amid the Iran war, sparking food security warnings.
• SecondaryInstituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos (IEEE) / Spanish Ministry of DefenceAccording to the FAO, fertilizer prices are expected to rise by 20% in 2026, adding pressure to an already strained food system.
• SecondaryIFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute)The blog analyses how fertiliser policies could exacerbate price shocks from the Hormuz closure. It references urea price increases and notes that shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz have already driven sharp increases in fertilizer and energy prices.