Experts warn: shortage of essential liquid could affect the entire world

Emil Forsberg

Published 2026-03-28 20.15

The price of naphtha probably doesn't keep you awake at night.

But maybe it should.

Experts warn that the essential liquid could hit harder than rising fuel prices if the war continues.

Gas and oil prices continue to surge as the energy war in the Middle East escalates.

Now experts are raising a warning finger for a new problem: the price of - and by extension, naphtha.

The faintly yellow liquid, which comes from crude oil and occurs naturally in bedrock, affects basically everything that is consumed.

Including cars, medicine, textiles, detergents, and packaging for food and drinks.

And even if the price effect is not felt as quickly as on gasoline, it is now on the rise. The prices of some plastic products have already risen by 15 percent and the situation could get worse, CNBC reports.

According to energy expert Jeff Krimmel, it will be felt everywhere. The price of food, clothing and other types of goods is expected to increase as the shortage worsens.

“There are so many of these everyday goods that will be affected. A large part of the world is packaged and transported in various forms of plastic,” he tells CNBC.

          

         Photo: Leo Correa /AP/TT 

 

          

          Photo: /AP/TT

 
The Gulf states together produce about twelve percent of the world’s petrochemicals, which corresponds to 150 million tons per year.

And they depend on the Strait of Hormuz to be able to transport their products.

Most plastics are made from raw materials that ultimately come from oil – such as naphtha, propylene and other chemicals. Much of the world’s naphtha is produced in the Middle East, and it is difficult to replace. If supplies are disrupted, it could therefore have major consequences far beyond the energy market.

“Nafta is a key raw material. It is a light, liquid fraction of oil that is used in a variety of products throughout the economy,” says Krimmel.