The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has created food security concerns in Japan as farmers are being charged more for imported fertilizer products.
While severe domestic supply chain bottlenecks have hit naphtha supply chains, similiar shortage fears have yet to become a major issue in the fertilizer industry, experts say. But warnings about an international fertilizer shortage have been issued and the government is stockpiling fertilizer products and making moves to diversify its import sources.
Urea, ammonium phosphate, and potassium chloride 〞 raw materials for chemical fertilizers 〞 are almost entirely imported in Japan. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Malaysia provided 74% of Japan＊s urea; China accounted for 72% of the country＊s supply of ammonium phosphate, and Canada was the source of?78% of its potassium chloride.
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