Iran war cuts fertiliser supplies to Kenya, Tanzania

An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman on March 11, 2026. 

Photo credit: Reuters

East African economies are facing a looming fertiliser and food shortage as the war in the Middle East disrupts global supply chains, forcing governments to reassess growth forecasts.

The region’s fragile food security situation has been worsened by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which about one-third of global seaborne fertiliser trade passes, as the United States and Israel intensify military attacks on Iran.