Chokepoints threat to global food trade

The numbers of undernourished are falling despite an ever-growing population, largely due to the ability of international trade to feed the world. Now, however, trade routes are under strain from more shipments having to navigate increasingly vulnerable sea lanes


RISING POPULATION
8 billion
7 
6 
5
4
3
2
1
0
2000 2016
Global population
Undernourished population
2016: 10.91% (down from 14.65% in 2000)


AGRICULTURAL GOODS EXPORTED WORLDWIDE
2.0 billion tonnes
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
2000 2016
Increase of 266% from 2000-2016


GLOBAL GRAIN TRADE, 2000/ 2015 (millions of tonnes)
U.S. inland waterways 67/78
Panama Canal 57/91
Brazil rail and ports 23/102
Dover Strait 15/24
Strait of Gibraltar 50/64
Suez Canal 16/56
Turkish straits 8/75
Strait of Bad al-Mandab 18/52
Strait of Hormuz 17/24
Black Sea rail and ports 9/85
Strait of Malacca 28/108


Cargo ships navigate Pedro Miguel lock on Panama Canal


Sources: Bloomberg, Chatham House 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS