The global economy is currently facing its most severe energy crisis in decades.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked, meaning that over 21 million barrels of oil exports cannot reach their end customers. This represents ~20% of global liquid petroleum consumption.
If this route remains closed throughout 2026, the world faces a “30% shock” to energy prices and industrial supply chains that could rewrite the global economic playbook.
We’ve outlined three scenarios that detail the potential macroeconomic outcomes if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
(Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis based on Vortexa tanker tracking)
Scenario 1: The Stagflation Trap and Collapsing Growth
A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would likely trigger a classic “supply shock”, leading to a period of stagflation where economic growth slows down and inflation skyrockets. This situation manifested during the 1970s Energy Crisis, when OPEC initiated an oil embargo on the US for supporting Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
Today, the removal of nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply would send Brent crude prices above $120 per barrel.
In a hyperinflationary scenario, if oil prices surge over $150 per barrel and potentially reach $200, the surge in energy costs would add as a “tax” on consumers, triggering an inflationary crisis that would impact consumers severely, reduce discretionary spending, and slow down industrial production across the globe.
History suggests that energy-driven inflation is difficult to break as it affects the cost of everything from groceries to plastics. This combination of rising prices and falling output is the epitome of stagflation, with painful and irreversible consequences.
Scenario 2: The Federal Reserve Pivots Towards Rate Hikes
The Federal Reserve would then find itself in an extraordinarily difficult position, as it would have to balance the need to constrain rising inflation against the risk of deepening a recession.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned that persistent, major supply shocks, such as those stemming from war, could lead businesses, price setters, and households to anticipate higher inflation over the long term.
He acknowledged that energy shocks can be transient and stressed the need for the central bank to vigilantly monitor inflation expectations. Furthermore, Powell remained cautious regarding the prospect of the Fed cutting interest rates, citing the risk of deepening inflation.
The expectation of interest rate cuts in 2026 has quickly diminished due to the prolonged uncertainty of the ongoing conflict. The market is not pricing in any additional rate cuts until deep into 2027 or potentially even early 2028.
Some analysts are even anticipating rate hikes, with recent Federal Reserve minutes indicating the Fed may be compelled to maintain a restrictive policy stance. Rate hikes would help to cool inflation, but would prove devastating to economic growth, as it would make borrowing more expensive, making it difficult for corporations to fund expansion plans and hire more workers.
Under Fed Chairman Volcker, the Fed raised rates dramatically in the 1980s, with the federal funds rate peaking near 20% in 1981. The result was two back-to-back recessions (1980 and 1981-82), with unemployment peaking at 10.8% in late 1982—the highest since the Great Depression.
Scenario 3: Global Supply Chain Chaos and Food Insecurity
Despite oil dominating the headlines, the Strait of Hormuz also acts as a critical gateway for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and other essential industrial materials. For instance, Qatar, one of the world’s leading Liquefied Natural Gas exporters, relies almost entirely on the strait to reach markets in Europe and Asia, supporting 20% of global LNG exports.
(Source: Statista; Global operational LNG export capacity by country 2025)
Similarly, the blockade also disrupts the flow of fertilizers in the Persian Gulf, which accounts for approximately 23% of global ammonia trade and 34% of urea trade, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia being the main suppliers. This is crucial for global agriculture and manufacturing industries.
The resulting disruption in fertilizer shipments would threaten global crop yields, potentially leading to a “grocery supply emergency” in several regions.
In short, food prices are highly sensitive to the cost of inputs like urea and ammonia.
Food insecurity could cause economic strain as food is a non-negotiable expense. When individuals are unable to provide for their families, the “opportunity cost” associated with engaging in protests vanishes, leading to political instability.
For example, the 2008 and 2011 global food price spikes were the “spark” for the Arab Spring across several countries in the Middle East. When bread prices doubled in Egypt, the resulting “bread riots” became the catalyst for broader anti-government movements, which caused over 800 deaths.
The World Bank’s April 2026 update warned that fertilizer prices, specifically urea, surged by 46% month-on-month following recent Middle East disruptions. Further disruption of fertilizer flows through the Strait of Hormuz may lead to an additional 45M people facing acute hunger.
Strategic Moves for Investors During an Energy Crisis
In a world of $120 oil and stagnant growth, traditional “buy and hold” strategies struggle to perform in the midst of such high volatility. Investors often look toward “hard assets” or gold as a way to preserve purchasing power when fiat currencies are under pressure from inflation. Will people start flocking towards Bitcoin as a form of digital gold? It’s difficult to say at this point.
As we move deeper into 2026, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is the ultimate “black swan” event for global trade. Whether the result is a short-lived spike and multi-year economic shift, being prepared is the only way to navigate the uncertainty safely.
Here are some helpful resources:
- Visit the BTSE Markets page for real-time prices.
- Download the BTSE app for Android or iOS.
- Put your assets to work through BTSE Earn staking products.
- Watch our YouTube videos to stay ahead of the curve during periods of high volatility.
