Asean economic ministers warned the Middle East war could worsen energy security, raise costs, and drag regional growth.
Asean ministers have warned that the war in the Middle East is starting to ripple into the region’s economy, with energy and logistics pressures that could slow growth.
In a statement shared after an April 30 special meeting, Misryoum reported that ASEAN economic ministers flagged the widening threat to global energy security, linking it to disruptions affecting key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.. They said the situation is intensifying volatility in oil and LNG prices and pushing up freight, insurance, and logistics costs across trade.
The warning matters because when energy and shipping become more expensive, the hit does not stay in fuel markets. It can move quickly into inflation, business uncertainty, and the everyday cost of goods.
Ministers also said the effects are spreading beyond energy, contributing to inflationary pressures, currency swings, tighter global financial conditions, and growing uncertainty for companies and investors. In this context, keeping supply chains functioning smoothly has become a central concern.
To reduce disruption, Misryoum said the ministers emphasized the need to maintain secure and open sea lanes. They urged respect for safe and uninterrupted transit in straits used for international navigation, in line with international legal obligations.
This is a key point for Asean because the region depends on dependable routes for both energy inputs and exports, so instability at chokepoints can undermine broader economic planning.
The Asean Economic Community Council, which coordinates regional economic integration, is chaired this year by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque of the Philippines through the country’s Asean chairmanship.. In an online briefing, she said ministers pledged to keep trade open as Asean faces strains in energy supplies, logistics costs, and food security.
Misryoum noted that the ministers agreed to avoid trade-restrictive measures, including export bans on essential goods. They framed predictability as stability, arguing that keeping goods moving across borders is especially important during uncertainty.
They also warned that rising energy and transport costs are affecting food systems, prompting calls for stronger regional cooperation around fertilizer supply and availability.. Ministers pointed to the need to prevent fertilizer disruptions and discussed measures linked to the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve.
At the same time, they committed to advance regional agreements, including updates connected to trade in goods and energy cooperation, as well as exploring a study on regional oil stockpiling.. The impact on tourism was also raised, with urging for targeted steps such as energy-efficient transport and sustainable practices to protect the sector’s competitiveness.
At the end of the meeting, Misryoum said ministers stressed that responses should be prompt and well coordinated to safeguard macroeconomic stability, with broader trade and financial integration and market diversification strengthening resilience.. They added that if emergency measures are adopted by individual members, they should be targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, and consistent with WTO and Asean rules, while not creating unnecessary trade barriers.