Big Take Asia Asia Is Bearing the Brunt of the Iran War Energy Crisis
8 snips
Mar 17, 2026 Clara Ferreira Marques, Bloomberg commodities and energy editor in Asia, gives sharp regional market analysis. Faseeh Mangi, Karachi-based Bloomberg reporter, brings on-the-ground reporting from Pakistan. They discuss soaring fuel prices, cooking gas shortages, government austerity measures, shifting oil trade flows, and the political fallout as energy shocks ripple across Asia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Topping Up Before Pakistan's Record Fuel Hike
- Faseeh Mangi topped up his car before a scheduled government fuel-price hike and avoided immediate higher costs.
- Pakistan raised fuel prices by a record 21%, causing long lines, scuffles, and some stations running dry.
Pakistan's Vulnerability To Gulf Supply Shocks
- Pakistan imports most of its fuel from Gulf countries, so disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz hit it quickly.
- The government moved to weekly price adjustments and rolled out over a dozen fuel-saving measures to manage volatility.
Use Short-Term Austerity To Buy Time
- Implement demand-side austerity to stretch supplies and budgets during prolonged price shocks.
- Pakistan introduced a four-day work week, work-from-home, and halved government transport use as immediate conservation steps.