The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that a closure of the strategically vital Hormuz Strait could lead to a significant rise in global food prices. The organization stated in an analytical report released on Tuesday that such a disruption would increase the cost of living worldwide, with the greatest impact falling on low-income populations.

According to the report, higher energy, fertilizer, and transport costs could drive up food prices, putting marginalized communities under severe pressure. UNCTAD’s data show that the strait is essential for global trade, carrying 38 percent of the world’s crude oil, 29 percent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 19 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It also plays a key role in food security, as one-third of all fertilizer shipped globally passes through this route.

The findings highlight the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical disruptions in critical maritime corridors such as the Hormuz Strait.