The Coming Food Crisis in South Asia
South Asia faces a looming food crisis due to disruptions in oil supply affecting fertilizer availability. The region's heavy reliance on imported fertilizers, particularly from the Persian Gulf, exacerbates the situation as rising costs and logistical delays threaten agricultural productivity. Historical patterns indicate that similar crises have led to significant increases in food prices and poverty levels in the past.
- ▪Disrupted oil flows are causing a surge in fuel prices and fertilizer shortages in South Asia.
- ▪India imported over half of its fertilizer from the Gulf in 2024, highlighting the region's dependency.
- ▪Even minor disruptions in fertilizer supply can lead to significant declines in crop yields and increased food prices.
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Pacific Money | Economy | South Asia The Coming Food Crisis in South Asia Oil disruptions are cascading into fertilizer markets, weakening agriculture and putting South Asia’s food security at risk. We’ve seen this pattern before. By Santosh Nepal May 12, 2026 Credit: Photo 93669954 © Dreamstime Agency | Dreamstime.com Subscribe for ads-free reading Disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz may appear, at first glance, to be another episode of energy market instability. But the implications, especially for South Asia, run much deeper. Disruptions in oil supply are not only causing a surge in fuel prices; they are a clear warning of an impending food crisis driven by fertilizer shortages, rising production costs, and increasingly fragile agri-food systems.
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