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Council on Foreign Relations analysis says the Russia-Ukraine war re-erupted in the Black Sea in July 2026, disrupting about 17% of world traded grain. Drought cut the US wheat crop to its smallest since 1970, and wheat prices have reached a three-and-a-half-year high near $8 per bushel.
Combined with a forecast super El Niño and fertilizer price spikes, the chokepoint closure is expected to push global food prices higher and keep wheat and corn supported.
cfr.orgCouncil on Foreign RelationsOct 1, 2026After 361 past bullish geopolitics events, WHEAT moved a median +0.7% over 5 sessions (58% higher; middle half -1.4% to +3.7%), and +1.3% over 20.
After 94 past bullish geopolitics events, KWHEAT moved a median +0.1% over 5 sessions (50% higher; middle half -2.7% to +5.8%), and +0.1% over 20.
After 323 past bullish geopolitics events, CORN moved a median +0.5% over 5 sessions (57% higher; middle half -1.5% to +2.9%), and +0.9% over 20.
After 205 past bullish geopolitics events, UREA moved a median +0.4% over 5 sessions (53% higher; middle half -2.1% to +3.0%), and -0.4% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
