Middle East Conflict: Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Damage Global Economy – Pouyanné
By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
Patrick Pouyanné, TotalEnergies CEO, has warned that the Strait of Hormuz crisis could damage the global economy if the Middle East conflict persists for more than six months.
Pouyanné made this known at the China Development Forum 2026, underscoring the need for quick solutions to end the war in the Middle East.
He noted that while current inventories provide a temporary buffer, the stakes are high and solutions are urgently needed.
He said that the pipelines connecting Saudi Arabia, including the pipeline located in the south of the United Arab Emirates, currently serve as a temporary buffer.
“Today, we managed to amortize this shock because we have inventories. It’s clearly a matter of how long we pay,” he stated. “If this conflict lasts three or four months. We can swallow it.”
“If it is more than six months, we’ll have some real impacts. All the economies of the world will be damaged,” he added.
