Assessment date: 2026-03-30 · Hover over a card to see the underlying risk development
crude oil pricing EXTREME
Energy (Oil & Gas)Chemicals & PetrochemicalsShipping & Maritime
EU refiners could face sustained Brent above $110-120/barrel through April 2026.
Brent crude surged to $115.35 on March 30 following Houthi entry into the war and ground operation reports. The April 6 power plant strike deadline, potential Houthi Red Sea attacks, and possible US ground operations on Kharg Island each represent independent escalation triggers. EU refiners dependent on spot crude purchases should expect elevated input costs and compressed margins. Procurement managers should lock in forward contracts where possible before the April 6 deadline.
Onset: immediate
Duration: weeks to months
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ground operation disruption EXTREME
Energy (Oil & Gas)UtilitiesChemicals & Petrochemicals
A US ground operation on Kharg Island could trigger Iranian destruction of remaining Gulf energy infrastructure.
The Pentagon is preparing limited ground operations potentially targeting Kharg Island, which handles 90% of Iran's oil exports. Iran's parliament speaker warned that troops are waiting to retaliate, and Iran has threatened to target vital infrastructure in regional countries that assist the US. A Kharg Island operation could trigger retaliatory strikes on Saudi Aramco, Qatari LNG, or remaining UAE infrastructure, further reducing global supply. EU energy security would be directly affected through the loss of alternative Gulf supply sources.
Onset: days
Duration: months
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Red Sea shipping resumption EXTREME
Shipping & MaritimeEnergy (Oil & Gas)Retail & Consumer Goods
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping could eliminate the last maritime bypass for Gulf energy.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait remains the only viable maritime route for Saudi oil bypassing Hormuz via the East-West Pipeline to Yanbu. Approximately 30 Saudi tankers are at Yanbu within Houthi strike range. If Houthis resume targeting commercial shipping, EU-bound tankers and container vessels would need to reroute entirely around Africa, adding 10-14 days to transit times and substantially increasing freight costs. Container lines that had partially resumed Suez Canal routing after the January 2025 ceasefire would need to revert to Cape of Good Hope routes.
Onset: days
Duration: months
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gas storage shortfall HIGH
Energy (Oil & Gas)Chemicals & PetrochemicalsUtilities
EU could struggle to reach even a reduced 65-80% gas storage target by winter 2026.
Germany and France have storage below 25%, the Netherlands is at record lows. The EU Commission has already deployed its flexibility to lower the 90% target to 80% with a further deviation to 65%. If TTF remains above €50/MWh through summer, the cost of injection will be substantially higher than recent years, and EU buyers will face intense competition from Asian LNG importers. Procurement managers should expect sustained gas costs above pre-war levels through at least Q3 2026 and should evaluate hedging strategies and fuel-switching options.
Onset: weeks
Duration: months
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ammonia production costs HIGH
Chemicals & PetrochemicalsAgriculture & Food
European ammonia and fertilizer production could remain deeply uneconomic at current TTF levels.
TTF at €54-56/MWh renders most European ammonia production unprofitable, as ammonia plants typically require gas below €30-35/MWh to operate economically. This creates a feedback loop where the gas crisis exacerbates the fertilizer crisis by preventing domestic production from offsetting Gulf import losses. EU chemical producers may extend or initiate production curtailments if gas prices do not normalize, compounding the nitrogen fertilizer shortage during the spring application window.
Onset: immediate
Duration: months
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spring fertilizer costs HIGH
Agriculture & FoodChemicals & Petrochemicals
EU farmers could face nitrogen fertilizer costs 20-50% above pre-conflict levels for spring application.
European urea prices reached approximately $460/kg ($460/ton) in March, up from $440 in December 2025 per IMARC data. The Hormuz fertilizer exemption may allow some Gulf supply to resume, but the 30+ day delivery timeline means cargoes loading now would not reach EU farmers until May at the earliest. Farmers who delayed procurement face the choice between paying elevated spot prices or reducing application rates. The EU Commission's February proposal to suspend tariffs on non-Russian fertilizer imports addresses only a fraction of the cost burden.
Onset: immediate
Duration: months
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crop yield reduction MEDIUM
Agriculture & FoodRetail & Consumer Goods
Reduced fertilizer application could lower EU crop yields, contributing to food inflation by late 2026.
If nitrogen application rates decline due to cost or availability constraints, EU winter wheat, rapeseed, and sugar beet yields could be reduced by 5-15%. Oxford Economics analysts noted that while 2026 entered with relatively high food commodity buffer stocks, a 5% yield reduction would cause food inflation rather than outright shortages. The impact would be concentrated in member states most reliant on imported nitrogen and most exposed to gas-price-driven production costs.
Onset: months
Duration: months
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aluminium supply disruption MEDIUM
AutomotiveAerospace & DefenceConstruction & Building Materials
EU automotive and aerospace firms could face aluminium delivery delays and 10-20% price increases.
EGA serves over 400 customers in 50+ countries across automotive, aerospace, construction, and packaging. While EGA reported having metal stock on the water and overseas when the conflict began, the physical damage to Al Taweelah smelting capacity and the existing Hormuz blockade preventing new shipments mean this buffer will be drawn down. Alba declared force majeure on March 4 and the new physical damage further constrains its output. EU procurement managers should assess Gulf aluminium exposure and explore alternative sourcing from Norwegian, Icelandic, or Canadian producers, though global aluminium prices are likely to rise broadly.
Onset: weeks
Duration: months
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