Global markets faced renewed pressures in April as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz continued to disrupt fertilizer supply, pushing urea and phosphate prices higher and further eroding fertilizer affordability. Supply chain disruptions, combined with higher energy and logistics costs, intensified production challenges. Policy responses included export restrictions on key fertilizer inputs, revised trade measures, and adjustments to biofuel mandates. Against this backdrop, crop conditions remained broadly favourable: wheat and maize benefited from generally good weather although rainfall is needed in some parts, rice harvests progressed across Asia and South America, and soybean harvesting in the southern hemisphere advanced. However, rising input costs highlight growing risks for future agricultural production, including shifting area to less input-intensive crops.