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The partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz " a critical shipping waterway off the coast of Iran " has caused major disruptions in the flow of oil, with 20% of the world's oil supply historically traveling through the strait. Beyond oil, the disruption of traffic through the strait has also sparked a shortage of helium, a resource that plays a critical role in applications ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to medical equipment.

Now, onlookers are growing increasingly concerned about the war's impact on the supply of sulfuric acid, which Freda Gordon, director at Acuity Commodities, told the Journal could pose a significant threat to "food security" given the chemical's role in producing certain types of fertilizer.