Japan’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister Norikazu Suzuki said the country currently imports three-quarters of its urea from Malaysia, NHK reported.

Urea is an essential raw material used in fertilisers.

Japan had previously agreed to import urea, via a Petronas subsidiary, for two years.

“Amid the continuing uncertainty in the Middle East, producers will need fertilisers in autumn and I believe there are also concerns about next year,” Suzuki was quoted as saying.

According to Suzuki’s ministry, Malaysia accounted for 74% of the 256,000 tonnes of urea imported between June 2024 and June 2025, followed by Vietnam with 10%.

Earlier today, BBC reported that many countries import a large amount of fertilisers from the Persian Gulf region and within weeks of the Iran war, the price of urea had surged more than 40%.

When Iran was struck by the US and Israel on Feb 28, the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne fertiliser trade flows, effectively shut down.

Petronas, via its subsidiary Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, is a major producer and exporter of urea in Southeast Asia.