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Urea prices have spiked close to 30% since Iran shut shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has halted close to half of the world's urea exports. US farmers, including Kansas grower Matt Ubel, are facing higher nitrogen costs just as spring planting of corn begins.
Reduced Gulf fertilizer exports raise input costs for US corn growers during peak nitrogen application, which may trim planted acreage or yields and support feed grain prices.
npr.orgFrank MorrisMar 26, 2026After 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.
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.
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.
Hormuz shipping halt reportedly stopped close to half of world urea exports, a trade-flow shock that supports continued upward pressure on urea.
