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Iran, Kuwait, and Qatar follow at 11%, 10%, and 5%, respectively. On the destination side, China receives the largest portion at 37%, followed by India at 14%, Other Asia and Oceania at 16%, South Korea at 12%, and Japan at 12%. This means ~75% of all crude oil passing through the Strait flows to Asia, making the region overwhelmingly the most exposed to the current disruption. Saudi Arabia and Iraq alone represent 60% of all crude transiting the chokepoint, meaning any prolonged closure disproportionately impacts their export revenues and Asian buyers simultaneously. The Strait of Hormuz is the most critical chokepoint in global energy flows. Source: Global Markets Investor

Source: Trend Spider

Goldman Sachs explains that despite a sharp drop of 270 million barrels in global oil shipments within three weeks, Western economies remain stable. High oil inventories across OECD Europe and the Americas cushion any supply shock, preventing immediate disruption. This insulation allows major U.S. oil companies to achieve exceptional profitability even as global supply tightens. Consequently, the West is not protected but may benefit from current conditions, raising questions about who advantages from ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Source: Qasem Al-Ali (@AlaliQasem)

with just 45 days of fuel reserves remaining. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 110, warning of an “imminent danger” to the country’s energy supply. The order, in effect for one year, allows the government to directly procure fuel, enforce rationing, and control distribution of essentials like food and medicine. The vulnerability is stark. The Philippines imports 98% of its oil from the Gulf. Its top suppliers—Saudi Arabia ($1.79B), the UAE ($1.22B), and Iraq ($474M)—are all directly affected by the conflict. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, these supply routes are under severe strain, and Saudi exports to Asia have already been cut for a second straight month. Domestically, the country produces just 14,300 barrels per day but consumes around 474,000—a massive 97% shortfall. This is what a global energy shock looks like in real time. Source: TFTC

In 2026, global gas reserves tell a misleading story: Russia, Iran, and Qatar hold over 50% of reserves, yet disruptions, sanctions, and conflict limit output. The US, with only ~5% of reserves, dominates through operational export terminals, LNG shipping, and intact infrastructure. The lesson: energy power comes from extraction, processing, and logistics not the size of reserves. Gas in the ground or stranded by damaged infrastructure holds no real value; the strategic asset is functional infrastructure. Source: Jack Prandelli on X

Governments will step in as energy prices surge. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: 👉 Many of these same governments helped create the crisis 👉 By weakening their own energy security 💸 Now comes the real problem: Most European countries are already running structural deficits. They don’t have the fiscal room to absorb another shock. So what happens next? ➡️ Subsidies go up ➡️ Deficits widen ➡️ Policymakers panic And then the “solution” kicks in: 👉 Higher taxes 🧠 Think about the loop: • Governments subsidise households • Then raise taxes to fund it ➡️ Households end up paying for their own “relief” (with a bit of redistribution in between) 🔁 And this doesn’t stop here. The same cycle is playing out across: • Healthcare costs • Welfare expansion • Defence spending ⏳ Until the next crisis hits. And when it does, you’ll hear the same line again: “We must stabilise the economy.” 💥 Which really means: • Deficits explode • Debt issuance surges • Central banks step in 👉 Printing money 👉 Buying bonds 👉 Repeating the cycle 📌 Once you see the system, you can’t unsee it: It’s a loop of: Crisis → Spending → Debt → Money printing → Repeat ⚠️ Now here’s the part most people ignore: If your wealth is tied to assets that: • Don’t generate real returns • Can’t be moved easily • Are fully exposed to domestic policy 👉 You are far more vulnerable than you think (Yes, that includes a lot of real estate) 🧠 The uncomfortable conclusion: This isn’t about one crisis. It’s about a system. And if your portfolio isn’t positioned for it… 👉 It’s probably mispriced for reality Source: Financial Times

Source: BofA, RBC

Source: Trend Spider