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International Relations GS 2 In the news 3 times

Strait of Hormuz as a Critical Chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is the world's most strategically significant energy chokepoint. Approximately 20% of global LNG exports transit the strait, including nearly 60% of the LNG India uses for urea manufacturing (sourced from Qatar's North Field). The strait also handles 20–30% of global fertiliser trade and 35% of global urea exports. Any disruption — through conflict, blockade, or force majeure — immediately propagates into energy markets, fertiliser supply chains, and food prices worldwide.

Key details
  • 83% of LNG transiting Hormuz is destined for Asian markets (China, India, South Korea account for 52%)
  • India's import exposure: ~66% of imported urea and ~50% of total LNG imports come from the Gulf region
  • 30 of India's 32 urea plants use natural gas or naphtha as feedstock
  • Petronet LNG's force majeure notice (March 3, 2026): declared inability to safely transit Hormuz for Qatari LNG vessels
  • Global urea price post-conflict: rose from $482.5/tonne (Feb 27) to $720/tonne by mid-March — approximately 49% increase
In the news

Tracked since March 30, 2026 · last seen June 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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