Asia is likely to face the harshest consequences of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, as disruptions to global energy flows deepen, a leading maritime analytics firm has warned on Tuesday.
In an interview with AFP, Jean Maynier, president of Kpler, said the region’s heavy reliance on imported energy leaves it especially exposed to supply shocks.
He noted that many Asian countries lack sufficient domestic resources to offset the shortfall caused by the crisis.
“We expect Asia to suffer the most at this stage,” Maynier said, pointing out that even major economies like China, along with countries such as Philippines and Indonesia, may struggle to meet their energy needs. He described the situation as a full-fledged energy crisis.
The disruption is largely tied to reduced activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
According to Kpler, vessel traffic through the strait has dropped significantly compared to pre-conflict levels, affecting supply chains across Asia.
Signs of stress are already visible in the Philippines, where authorities have declared a national energy emergency amid tightening fuel availability.
Although there was a brief rise in shipping activity over the weekend - with 17 commodity vessels passing through the strait, including 12 on Saturday - overall traffic remains far below normal. Data shows that only 196 commodity vessels crossed the waterway so far this month, a sharp decline from usual levels. Of these, 120 were oil and gas carriers, most heading eastward.
Kpler, a Brussels-based firm established in 2014 and known for its vessel tracking platform MarineTraffic, has been closely monitoring developments since the escalation of hostilities following attacks involving the United States and Israel in late February.
