When Canadian media theorist Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase ‘the global village’ in the 1960s, to explain the modern world’s interdependence, fertiliser supplies weren’t his primary concern.

However, the impact of the Middle East conflict over the last few weeks on international fertiliser markets is yet more proof, if it were needed, of how actions in one region cause global reactions.

For example, urea costs have increased 60% in Australia to reach around $1,350/t or €800/t since the start of the war.

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India has been forced to launch a major drive to secure fertiliser supplies outside the Gulf region, where it traditionally sourced 40% of its imports.

Meanwhile, China has imposed export restrictions on fertiliser as it seeks to protect domestic users.

McLuhan may not of have been thinking about fertiliser, but, as the last few weeks have shown, we all now live and work in ‘the global village’.