As combine harvesters bring the autumn harvest to a close across central China"s Hubei Province, local farmer Fu Pengcheng is preparing his 1,000 mu (66.7 hectares) of farmland for winter wheat rotation, reassured by stable fertilizer supplies heading into the upcoming planting season.

　　The 42-year-old farmer has stockpiled 40 tonnes of fertilizer at 3,065 yuan (454.29 U.S. dollars) per tonne. "Though slightly higher compared with last year, the price is still reasonable," said Fu, adding that his county has ample fertilizer stocks for him to replenish at any time.

　　Like Fu, farmers across China today no longer have to scramble for fertilizer or stockpile it during the busy farming season, nor do they have to worry about fertilizer price spikes. Against tightening global fertilizer supply rattled by geopolitical headwinds, the country"s targeted measures have secured agricultural supplies and underpinned national food security.

　　China"s grain production has stayed on firm footing this year. Official data released in July put summer grain output at 150.7 billion kilograms, up 0.7 percent year on year, marking the first time the harvest has topped 150 billion kilograms. The country is on track to meet its annual grain output target of around 700 billion kilograms.

　　An aerial drone photo shows a harvester operating in a paddy field in Dufan Village of Dawu County, central China"s Hubei Province, Sept. 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

　　STABLE FERTILIZER SUPPLY

　　Fertilizer, an essential input for grain farming, faces severe global supply strains in 2026. Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region have disrupted vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical export route for fertilizers. The disruption has severely fragmented global fertilizer supply chains.