From chocolate sales at airports to fertiliser trade bottlenecks – the Swiss food and commodity industry is already feeling the impact of the war in the Middle East. Consumers will be next. The conflict in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has disrupted the flow of essential goods and hiked energy prices. Switzerland, as a hub for large food multinationals and the global commodity trading industry, is feeling the pinch. Here are four under-the-radar sectors that are particularly vulnerable to disruption: Fertiliser trade Fertilisers are one of the most traded commodities, with 169 million tonnes crossing borders in 2024. About half of all fertiliser is used to grow cereals like rice, wheat and maize. However, this trade has been affected by export restrictions imposed since 2021 by China, the world’s largest producer of nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser, sanctions on major potash exporters Russia and Belarus, and a 10% tariff on fertiliser …