Pakistan: Likely impact of Middle East conflict

Iran’s unprecedented drone/missile attacks on Israel on April 13 has raised the risk of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. The attacks by Iran were largely intercepted by Israel. Still, any further retaliatory exchanges between the two countries could worsen the disruption of shipping routes through the region and thus lift global freights – in turn leading to higher commodity prices in the coming months. The escalation is likely to affect Pakistan in multiple ways.

From the Pakistan market’s standpoint any escalation will test two key expectations that have driven the YTD rally at Pakistan Stock Exchange, monetary easing and Pakistan’s negotiation with the IMF for another program.

On the flipside, the market will draw comfort from the prospect of fresh bilateral assistance and investments from Saudi Arabia and the release of final tranche of US$1.1 billion by end April.

Global shipping costs and commodity prices are likely to rise. Even in case of a de-escalation of the conflict, it threatens to worsen the disruption of shipping routes through the region, similar to that through the Red Sea. There is an increased risk of the following in the near term:

Surge in global oil prices toward US$100/bbl: The Red Sea disruption since November 2023, along with the extension of OPEC Plus supply cuts, has lifted Brent from US$78/bbl at the start of 2024 to nearly US$90/bbl, despite a weak global economic recovery.

Surge in the global shipping costs, through elevated insurance premiums on shipments through the region.

Global food prices could also rise, because of the rise in shipping costs and higher fertilizer prices, which the region exports. Food exports from South Asia, such as rice from India and Pakistan, to the rest of the world could be disrupted as well.

Potential delay in the start of interest rate cuts: An escalated conflict will have negative implications for Pakistan’s CA balance and inflation. In a scenario where global prices of crude oil, chemicals and food commodities rise by 10% in the coming months, Pakistan’s trade and CA deficit could expand up to US$300 million per month.

It is also likely that, in an escalated conflict, Pakistan’s exports and remittances may shrink, due to a disruption in shipping routes and economic concerns in the GCC, respectively.

Together these could spell a reversal in the exchange rate parity which has been stable around 280 since the start of year 2024. Note that, as per the SBP, Pakistan has a funding gap of around US$3 billion until June 2024, excluding the US$1 billion Eurobond repaid on April 12, 2024.