Gate News message, April 15 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Middle Eastern economies will experience a sharp decline in growth this year due to the Iran war, with regional GDP growth falling from 3.6% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, before rebounding to 4.6% in 2027.
Gulf oil and gas exporters face a “severe downward revision” in growth projections, with the impact most pronounced for Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar, and less significant for Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia’s growth forecast for 2026 was downgraded to 3.1%, down 1.4 percentage points from January’s estimate. Egypt’s growth is expected to fall to 4.2% this year, rebounding to 4.8% in 2027.
More than 80 oil and gas fields, refineries, terminals, and other energy infrastructure across the region have sustained damage, with one-third classified as “severely and very severely damaged,” according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Birol called the war-induced energy shock the “greatest energy security threat” in history, with recovery potentially taking up to two years. Oil prices are forecast to jump 21.4% this year, while natural gas prices face greater pressure due to production restart complexity.
The energy shock is pushing global inflation to 4.4% in 2026 and 3.7% in 2027, marking a sharp deviation from recent disinflation trends. The IMF warned that prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure and further infrastructure damage would disrupt the global economy more deeply and for longer.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
The Panama Canal Effect of the Port of Hormuz: Companies pay up to $4 million to get ahead of the Panama Canal
Since the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping companies have increasingly rerouted through the Panama Canal; without a reservation, participation must be won through auction bidding, with the highest bid reaching about $4 million. Case examples show that a ship originally bound for Europe with fuel was rerouted to Singapore, resulting in additional costs of up to $4 million. The insurance industry also classifies Hormuz as a high-risk war zone, making it difficult to return to the 2025 level in the near term; Panama has also protested Iran’s detention of MSC Francesca.
ChainNewsAbmedia1m ago
Citigroup Raises 2026 Brent Crude Price Forecasts, Eyes $150/Barrel if Hormuz Disruptions Persist
Gate News message, April 27 — Citigroup raised its price forecasts for Brent crude oil (the international benchmark for crude oil pricing) for the remainder of 2026 on Sunday evening. The bank now projects average prices of $110 per barrel for Q2, $95 per barrel for Q3, and $80 per barrel for
GateNews2h ago
Whale Deposits $2M USDC to HyperLiquid, Opens Leveraged Short Positions on Oil
Gate News message, a whale deposited $2 million USDC into HyperLiquid and opened short positions of 21,000 BRENTOIL and 19,000 CL with 3x leverage.
GateNews2h ago
Goldman Sachs Raises Q4 Oil Price Forecasts to $90/Barrel Brent, $83/Barrel WTI Amid Middle East Supply Tightness
Gate News message, April 27 — Goldman Sachs raised its fourth-quarter oil price forecasts on April 26, citing supply tightness in the Middle East. The bank now expects Brent crude oil (London benchmark) to reach $90 per barrel and WTI crude oil (U.S. benchmark) to reach $83 per barrel, up from
GateNews3h ago
Powell’s final dance? Middle East conflict pushes inflation higher; the Fed is expected to hold steady this week
This week, central banks around the world announced their interest-rate decisions, and the market expects the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged. The conflict in the Middle East has escalated; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, pushing up energy and raw material prices and increasing global inflation pressure. As a result, central banks are taking a cautious wait-and-see approach. The estimated U.S. GDP is 2.2% annualized, and PCE has risen, indicating that economic resilience and inflation are coexisting. The market generally believes that the Fed will maintain interest rates. Powell may be hosting for the last time during his tenure, and the Warsh appointment path is also affected by the DOJ incident.
ChainNewsAbmedia4h ago
Iran Proposes Priority Agreement on Strait of Hormuz, Delays Nuclear Talks with U.S.
Gate News message, April 27 — Iran has proposed a new initiative to the United States prioritizing an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting maritime blockades, while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage, according to AXIOS citing a U.S. official and two informed sources
GateNews5h ago
