Kamal Ghorui
Asia is likely to face the worst impact of the ongoing Iran war and the resulting energy disruptions, with supply gaps emerging across key economies, global maritime analytics firm Kpler has warned, as reported AFP.“We think Asia will, for now, be the ones suffering the most,” Kpler president Jean Maynier told AFP in an interview at the company’s Singapore office.He said the region lacks sufficient domestic energy resources to offset supply disruptions caused by restricted flows through the Strait of Hormuz.“It will not be enough in China, it will not be enough to cover in big countries like the Philippines or Indonesia. So it’s a real energy crisis,” Maynier said.The disruption has already begun to show visible effects. Maynier pointed to the Philippines, where authorities have declared a national energy emergency amid tightening supplies.“It’s really bad for Asia and we are not optimistic if the event continues,” he said, adding, “We hope at some point that politicians will find a solution.”Kpler, a Brussels-based firm founded in 2014 that owns the MarineTraffic platform, tracks global commodity flows and shipping activity.Data from the firm shows a sharp decline in vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict escalated following US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28.While 17 commodities vessels crossed the strait over the weekend — including 12 on Saturday — overall traffic remains significantly lower. As of 1700 GMT on Monday, only 196 commodities vessels had crossed the route this month, far below pre-war levels.Of these, 120 were oil tankers and gas carriers, with most shipments moving eastward out of the strait.The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy trade, and continued disruption is expected to intensify supply constraints and price pressures, particularly for energy-import dependent Asian economies.
