Strait of Hormuz Blocked: German Century-Old Factory Produces Urea to Cope with Fertilizer Shortage
A German chemical factory with over a century of history is ramping up mass production of urea and ammonia to address fertilizer shortages caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade. This supply disruption is feared to threaten global food security.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 20:33
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 21:01 (28 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency, Wittenberg, 3rd, Comprehensive Foreign Report) As Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts the global economy, a more than century-old factory in the eastern German town of Wittenberg is working to fill the critical supply gap, mass-producing urea, ammonia, and other products needed for fertilizer.
Agence France-Presse reported that approximately one-third of the world's fertilizer is typically transported through the Strait of Hormuz. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that a blockade of these waters threatens global food security, particularly in Africa and South Asia.
A chemical plant in Wittenberg, established during World War I in 1915, was then dedicated to producing nitrogen for explosives and fertilizers to overcome the blockade difficulties of that era.
More than a hundred years later, with the Strait of Hormuz blocked, countries face similar difficulties of potential disruption to maritime transport routes.
To fill the supply shortage caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade, this century-old factory has been operating at full capacity.
The factory was acquired by SKW, Germany's largest urea producer, in 1993. A company spokesperson, discussing the factory's history, stated, "This is why production in Europe is so important."
Within SKW's 220-hectare plant area, a 23-kilometer railway transport network carries urea, ammonia, and finished fertilizer products, which are eventually delivered throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
However, the German Fertiliser Producers' Association points out that many factories in Europe have closed in recent years due to high costs.
The association noted, "Without local producers and competitive agriculture, European food security will be severely threatened." (Translator: Gao Zhaofen / Editor: Chen Yanjun) 1150503
Agence France-Presse reported that approximately one-third of the world's fertilizer is typically transported through the Strait of Hormuz. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that a blockade of these waters threatens global food security, particularly in Africa and South Asia.
A chemical plant in Wittenberg, established during World War I in 1915, was then dedicated to producing nitrogen for explosives and fertilizers to overcome the blockade difficulties of that era.
More than a hundred years later, with the Strait of Hormuz blocked, countries face similar difficulties of potential disruption to maritime transport routes.
To fill the supply shortage caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade, this century-old factory has been operating at full capacity.
The factory was acquired by SKW, Germany's largest urea producer, in 1993. A company spokesperson, discussing the factory's history, stated, "This is why production in Europe is so important."
Within SKW's 220-hectare plant area, a 23-kilometer railway transport network carries urea, ammonia, and finished fertilizer products, which are eventually delivered throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
However, the German Fertiliser Producers' Association points out that many factories in Europe have closed in recent years due to high costs.
The association noted, "Without local producers and competitive agriculture, European food security will be severely threatened." (Translator: Gao Zhaofen / Editor: Chen Yanjun) 1150503