April 26: Impact of US-Iran War on International Economy, Financial Markets, and People's Livelihoods
The Middle East war has caused international oil prices to surge, disrupting Germany's economic recovery. Germany's economic growth forecasts for this year and next have been revised downwards. Meanwhile, Singapore has significantly increased its imports of Russian fuel oil to replace lost Middle Eastern supplies. Iran's Tehran International Airport has also resumed international commercial flights after nearly two months of conflict.
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- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 17:12
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 17:31 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 26, 2026 at 17:42 (10 min after Collected)
## Central News
(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 26 Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Middle East war has triggered a surge in international oil prices, disrupting Germany's economic recovery path. Berlin authorities have revised down their economic growth forecasts for this year and next. Data also shows a significant increase in Singapore's imports of Russian fuel oil, indicating that local traders are replacing lost Middle Eastern supplies with Russian oil.
### Middle East War Drives Energy Price Surge, Disrupts German Economic Recovery
Before the outbreak of the Middle East war, Germany benefited from defense and infrastructure spending, seeing an increase in industrial orders, a decrease in corporate inventories, and an improvement in business confidence. However, Carsten Brzeski, head of global macroeconomic research at ING (International Netherlands Group), pointed out that soaring energy prices and supply chain risks have "spoiled the atmosphere even before Germany's (economic) growth party began."
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy recently halved Germany's economic growth forecast for this year from 1% to 0.5%; next year's growth forecast was also lowered from 1.3% to 0.9%. Simultaneously, it predicted this year's inflation rate would reach 2.7%, and next year's 2.8%.
### Middle East War Affects Fuel Oil Supply, Singapore Turns to Large-Scale Procurement from Russia
According to data from energy shipping market data company Vortexa, fuel oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Singapore decreased from a total of 522,000 barrels per day in January and February to 336,000 barrels per day in March and April. Conversely, fuel oil from Russia increased from 372,000 barrels per day to 585,000 barrels per day.
Vortexa also noted that Singapore's imports of Russian fuel oil this month have more than doubled last year's monthly average and are expected to hit a new high since 2016. Furthermore, data from maritime data company Veson Nautical shows that approximately 20 Russian oil tankers have docked at Singapore-related anchorages this year, four times the five vessels during the same period last year.
### Iran's Tehran International Airport Resumes Commercial Flights, First Time Since Conflicts Nearly Two Months Ago
The Associated Press, citing Iranian state television, reported that flights to Istanbul, Turkey, Muscat, Oman, and Medina, Saudi Arabia, departed from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on April 25.
This marks the first time international commercial flights have taken off from Tehran in nearly two months since conflicts erupted between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Iran reopened some of its airspace after agreeing to a ceasefire with the United States earlier this month, temporarily halting hostilities between the two sides. (Edited by Hung Chi-yuan) 1150426
(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 26 Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Middle East war has triggered a surge in international oil prices, disrupting Germany's economic recovery path. Berlin authorities have revised down their economic growth forecasts for this year and next. Data also shows a significant increase in Singapore's imports of Russian fuel oil, indicating that local traders are replacing lost Middle Eastern supplies with Russian oil.
### Middle East War Drives Energy Price Surge, Disrupts German Economic Recovery
Before the outbreak of the Middle East war, Germany benefited from defense and infrastructure spending, seeing an increase in industrial orders, a decrease in corporate inventories, and an improvement in business confidence. However, Carsten Brzeski, head of global macroeconomic research at ING (International Netherlands Group), pointed out that soaring energy prices and supply chain risks have "spoiled the atmosphere even before Germany's (economic) growth party began."
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy recently halved Germany's economic growth forecast for this year from 1% to 0.5%; next year's growth forecast was also lowered from 1.3% to 0.9%. Simultaneously, it predicted this year's inflation rate would reach 2.7%, and next year's 2.8%.
### Middle East War Affects Fuel Oil Supply, Singapore Turns to Large-Scale Procurement from Russia
According to data from energy shipping market data company Vortexa, fuel oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Singapore decreased from a total of 522,000 barrels per day in January and February to 336,000 barrels per day in March and April. Conversely, fuel oil from Russia increased from 372,000 barrels per day to 585,000 barrels per day.
Vortexa also noted that Singapore's imports of Russian fuel oil this month have more than doubled last year's monthly average and are expected to hit a new high since 2016. Furthermore, data from maritime data company Veson Nautical shows that approximately 20 Russian oil tankers have docked at Singapore-related anchorages this year, four times the five vessels during the same period last year.
### Iran's Tehran International Airport Resumes Commercial Flights, First Time Since Conflicts Nearly Two Months Ago
The Associated Press, citing Iranian state television, reported that flights to Istanbul, Turkey, Muscat, Oman, and Medina, Saudi Arabia, departed from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on April 25.
This marks the first time international commercial flights have taken off from Tehran in nearly two months since conflicts erupted between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Iran reopened some of its airspace after agreeing to a ceasefire with the United States earlier this month, temporarily halting hostilities between the two sides. (Edited by Hung Chi-yuan) 1150426