Emerging Markets Through the Middle East Conflict: Uneven Impact of the Energy Shock

Chart  •  April 15, 2026

Not all emerging markets felt the energy shock equally. As conflict in the Middle East disrupted Hormuz-transiting crude and LNG flows, MSCI country indexes revealed a clear pattern: EM Asia was the most affected region overall, with Korea among the hardest hit markets.

Following the ceasefire, performance rebounded broadly across emerging markets. For investors, this highlights how global shocks can affect emerging markets in very different ways. 

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