New Delhi, May 4 -- The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted not just oil and gas supplies, but caused a global fertilizer shock as well.

Of the world's traded fertilizers, more than 40% of urea and 20-30% of potassic and phosphatic fertilizers-as well as 45% of the sulphur that goes into fertilizer manufacture-are shipped from Gulf countries via that vital waterway.

The blocked region also accounted for a fifth of all traded liquefied natural gas (LNG), some of which was feedstock for urea, before traffic through the strait came to halt. A shortage of all these products threatens food production and signals higher food prices globally, with hunger a distinct likelihood in countries that rely on imports for nutrition.

Since e...