Productivity Research Notes (PRN Series), No. 2603.This note examines the economic implications of a potential Strait of Hormuz closure, emphasizing that the primary risk extends beyond energy price increases to the disruption of Asian supply chains. As global production networks deepen, energy shocks propagate through intermediate goods trade, disrupting downstream manufacturing before price effects become binding. Using cross-country evidence on energy productivity, the note highlights structural differences in vulnerability across Asian economies. It also revisits the role of strategic reserves, arguing that they function as insurance against physical supply disruption rather than as tools for price stabilization. The analysis suggests that policy frameworks may underestimate supply chain transmission risks and over-rely on reserves for managing price pressures.
Koji Nomura (Mon,) studied this question.