Australia sourced much of its imported urea from the Middle East and Southeast Asia in 2024, with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia emerging as its largest suppliers, according to World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) trade data .

The map highlights Australia's dependence on imported urea, a nitrogen-rich fertiliser widely used to boost crop yields and also an essential ingredient in AdBlue, the diesel exhaust fluid required by many heavy vehicles to reduce emissions.

Saudi Arabia was Australia's largest individual supplier by trade value in 2024, exporting more than US$221 million worth of urea to Australia, according to WITS data based on UN Comtrade statistics. Indonesia also ranked among the country's biggest suppliers, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Oman, China and several other trading partners.

Australia imported around US$1.45 billion worth of urea from all countries in 2024, making it one of the world's five largest urea importers by value behind Brazil, the European Union, India and the United States.

Urea is the world's most widely used nitrogen fertiliser because it contains about 46% nitrogen, making it highly effective for crops including wheat, barley, canola, cotton and sugarcane. Australia imports most of its nitrogen fertiliser requirements despite being a major agricultural exporter, as domestic production has not kept pace with demand.

The country's reliance on overseas suppliers has become increasingly important during periods of global disruption. Supply chains have faced pressure in recent years from geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions and export restrictions by some producing countries, leading to higher fertiliser prices and renewed discussions about Australia's fertiliser security .

Australia is pursuing greater domestic production capacity through new fertiliser projects, but imported urea is expected to remain a key component of the country's agricultural supply chain for the foreseeable future.

According to recent statistics, the world ’s largest coconut producers in 2024 were Indonesia with 17.13 million tonnes, the Philippines at 14.77 million tonnes, and India close behind with 14.68 million tonnes.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) shows that global coconut (in shell) production was estimated at roughly 62.4 million metric tonnes in 2022.

In Indonesia, for example, coconut cultivation spans across the archipelago and supports millions of smallholder farmers. The Philippines, aside from being a leading producer, also exports large volumes of coconut oil, water and related products. India’s figures similarly underscore the importance of coconuts for both rural livelihoods and domestic consumption.

The prominence of coconuts in these economies meets demand from multiple directions: rising global interest in plant-based foods, coconut-derived beverages, oils used in cosmetics, and sustainable packaging alternatives. In that sense, coconut production connects traditional agriculture with 21st-century consumer trends.

However, climate change, extreme weather events and ageing coconut plantations are pressuring the sector .

For countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, typhoons and changing sea levels remain real threats to yields. The broader agricultural system also sees coconuts competing with other crops and land uses.

The United States leads the list with imports worth $3.82 trillion, followed by China at $2.79 trillion. Germany takes third with $1.57 trillion, while the United Kingdom and India follow at $975 billion and $892 billion, respectively. France imports $830 billion, Japan $784 billion, Italy $743 billion, Canada $719 billion, and the Netherlands rounds out the top ten with $713 billion.

These numbers tell the story of how economies interact. The U.S., for example, drives global demand through consumer spending, while China’s imports are increasingly tied to industrial inputs for its vast manufacturing sector.

Germany and the Netherlands act as European trade hubs, importing raw materials and components that feed into exports. For India, rising imports reflect its fast-growing economy and hunger for energy and technology.

But this surge in imports comes at a sensitive time for the global economy. The IMF’s July 2025 outlook projects global growth at 3.0%, citing a modest recovery from supply-chain disruptions but warning that trade tensions and protectionism remain significant risks.

The World Bank has also warned that escalating trade wars could weigh on two-thirds of developing economies, eroding growth prospects.

Markets are already feeling the ripple effects. Investor optimism in the U.S. has surged following a recent Federal Reserve rate cut of 25 basis points, driving capital back into equities and boosting risk appetite worldwide.

At the same time, researchers warn that prolonged tariff regimes could gradually weaken the dollar’s dominance as the global reserve currency — a shift that would fundamentally reshape trade dynamics.