Developed countries use stockpiles to manage high oil prices, maintaining consumption. In contrast, emerging economies in Asia must curb usage through measures like flight restrictions, which slows their economies. This highlights a fundamental imbalance in global crisis response and a structural vulnerability for poorer nations.
While oil is the obvious commodity affected by a Hormuz closure, a more fragile chokepoint for the high-tech economy is helium. It is essential for the ultra-cold temperatures needed in advanced chipmaking. With very little supply elasticity, a disruption here could halt the production of chips powering the AI revolution.
High oil prices are forcing a new kind of pressure on emerging markets. Some central banks are likely selling off reserve assets, such as gold, to acquire the necessary US dollars to pay for critical oil imports. This depletes their long-term financial buffers and weakens their future fiscal stability.
The lesson from recent disruptions is to build redundancy. But when every company and nation simultaneously tries to build up stockpiles of energy, chips, and other resources, it creates massive demand. This collective action is inherently inflationary, consuming resources and driving up global prices.
The most dangerous fallout from an energy supply shock isn't at the gas pump but in the fields. Farmers in places like Southeast Asia are halting production because diesel for tractors and water pumps becomes unaffordable. This leads to a predictable but often overlooked food supply crisis months down the line.
Despite a strong dollar or rising interest rates, demand for critical AI infrastructure like high-end chips from Korea and Taiwan remains inelastic. The perception that AI is an 'existential' race means nations and companies will spend whatever it takes, swamping normal economic indicators and creating a unique economic microclimate.