The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday warned that prolonged increases in energy prices could drive inflation higher and lower economic growth globally.

Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) have climbed above $105, with Brent briefly topping $109 as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.

Murban crude, meanwhile, recently hit $123 and sped past it, reflecting the continued freeze of most tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

The spokesperson for the IMF, Julie Kozack disclosed that the conflict had already resulted in significant disruptions to seaborne oil and natural gas shipments.

Kozack stated that the global multilateral institution had not received any formal requests for emergency financing but stood ready to help member countries where necessary.

She said IMF officials were engaging actively with finance ministers and central bankers from member countries, as well as with regional institutions.

Kozack said the overall impact of the war would depend on its duration, intensity, and extent.

She cited an IMF “rule of thumb,” which held that every 10 per cent increase in energy prices, if sustained for about a year, would result in a 40-basis-point increase in global inflation and a drop in output of 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent.

She warned that if oil prices remain over $100 for a year, that would translate into significant impacts on inflation and global economic output.

Central banks, she said, should remain vigilant in the wake of rising energy prices, with a careful eye on whether inflation was expanding beyond energy prices and whether inflation expectations were remaining well anchored.

She said the IMF’s preliminary assessment was that the war would weaken growth in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries but gave no specifics.

Much would depend, she noted, on the countries’ ability to resume exports of oil and gas supplies.

The IMF, earlier in March, expressed concerns over rising energy prices and disruptions to global trade caused by the crisis in the Middle East.

The Fund said it was closely monitoring the situation but warned that the conflict would add to global economic uncertainties.

The IMF will include the impact of the war in its updated global economic outlook, to be released in mid-April during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.

The escalation in the region began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iranian cities, triggering explosions and smoke in Tehran and other locations.

The crisis has negatively impacted global crude supply, as price spikes continue to cause disruptions in the petroleum market.