Hormuz Reopening Seen Unleashing Pent-Up Gulf Grain Demand

An interim US-Iran deal to end their months-long war and potentially fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz is likely to trigger a rush of grain imports to nations in the Persian Gulf after months of reliance on longer, less efficient routes.

A vital conduit for global commodity trade, Hormuz has been effectively closed since the first strikes on Iran at the end of February. The closure has reshaped regional grain flows, forcing importers to use ports outside the strait that are often not equipped to handle grain cargoes.

The Gulf is among the world’s most import-dependent food markets, relying on ...