US-Iran War's Impact on International Economy, Financial Markets, and Livelihoods
The US-Iran war is causing widespread repercussions on the global economy, financial markets, and public livelihoods, with issues such as South Korea's oil relief payments, Thailand's consumer subsidies, the rise of Chinese cars due to a decline in Japanese car sales in the Middle East, increased crude oil imports by China, disruptions to the PCB supply chain, and the European Central Bank's monetary policy stance. This suggests that geopolitical risks are having a broad impact on the world economy.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 17:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 18:02 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 18:09 (7 min after Collected)
## Press Release Information
Title: US-Iran War's Impact on International Economy, Financial Markets, and Livelihoods
Subtitle:
Company Name:
Industry:
Body (first 8000 characters): Key News on US-Iran War
Central Message
(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 27, Comprehensive Foreign Report) To alleviate living pressures and boost the economy, Thailand plans to disburse 4,000 Thai baht in consumer subsidies over four months starting in June. South Korea began distributing high oil price victim support funds to 70% of its citizens based on income today, April 27, but the inability to use it at gas stations has caused some public resentment.
Here is the latest situation regarding the impact of the US-Iran war on the international economy, financial markets, and people's livelihoods:
● South Korea distributes high oil price support funds, but gas stations cannot accept them, causing public resentment
The South Korean government, to ease the burden of high oil prices and high commodity prices caused by the Middle East war on its citizens, began distributing "high oil price victim support funds" sequentially from April 27 to 70% of the population based on income, approximately 32.56 million people (about 63% of the national population). Each person receives a minimum of 100,000 Korean won (approximately NT$2,000) and a maximum of 600,000 Korean won (nearly NT$13,000).
According to Yonhap News, although this support fund is nominally for "high oil price victims," gas stations with annual revenues exceeding 3 billion Korean won are excluded from its use. Since taxes account for a high proportion of oil prices, revenue is far greater than actual profit, leading to criticism that the government's usage restrictions are out of touch with reality.
● Thai government to issue consumer subsidies in June
The Thai government will launch the "Thai Help Thai Plus" subsidy program, which is expected to be approved by the cabinet in May and officially launched in June. Eligible individuals will receive a monthly subsidy of 1,000 Thai baht (approximately NT$972) for four months, totaling 4,000 Thai baht.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that he hopes this short-term measure will alleviate the pressure of living costs and promote economic growth.
● Japanese car sales to Middle East hindered, Chinese cars seize opportunity to grab market
According to the Daily Economic News, with navigation disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru, which have long dominated the Middle East market, have successively cut production and even suspended exports to the Middle East. Some Middle Eastern car dealers have had to wait two months for imported cars, leaving them with no cars to sell.
The report mentioned that without Japanese cars, these Middle Eastern car dealers urgently adjusted their procurement lists, focusing on Chinese-made cars, and used the Beijing Auto Show, which opened on April 24, to negotiate import matters on site. This signifies a loosening of Japanese cars' foundation in the Middle East market, creating an opportunity for Chinese car companies to make breakthroughs in the region.
● China's crude oil imports increase by nearly 9% in Q1
The Middle East war has led to a near-de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting crude oil supply in some countries. Zhang Xing, Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration of China, stated on April 27 that according to industry monitoring, China's crude oil output from January to March was 54.8 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.3%; crude oil imports were 146.838 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%.
China is the world's largest crude oil importer. According to previous reports by Reuters, China's crude oil import sources are, in order, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
● Iran war disrupts PCB supply chain, technology firms' costs soar
Iran attacked the Jubail petrochemical park in Saudi Arabia in early April, forcing the shutdown of high-purity polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin production lines.
PPE is one of the key raw materials for manufacturing printed circuit board (PCB) substrates, and PCBs are widely used in various electronic devices, from smartphones and computers to artificial intelligence (AI) servers.
An informed source revealed that SABIC, which operates the Jubail park, controls about 70% of the global supply of high-purity PPE resin, and production has not yet resumed, leading to an extreme shortage of PPE in the global market. In addition, the war has also severely disrupted maritime logistics in the Persian Gulf region.
● War disrupts energy market, European Central Bank plans to maintain interest rates and observe situation
Eurozone inflation reached 2.6% in March, higher than the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of 2%; the ECB warned that in the worst-case scenario, inflation could rise significantly further.
Despite this, economists generally expect the ECB to remain on hold at its April 30 meeting, keeping the benchmark deposit rate at 2%. (Editor: Yang Zhaoyan) 1150427
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Keywords:
Title: US-Iran War's Impact on International Economy, Financial Markets, and Livelihoods
Subtitle:
Company Name:
Industry:
Body (first 8000 characters): Key News on US-Iran War
Central Message
(Central News Agency, Taipei, April 27, Comprehensive Foreign Report) To alleviate living pressures and boost the economy, Thailand plans to disburse 4,000 Thai baht in consumer subsidies over four months starting in June. South Korea began distributing high oil price victim support funds to 70% of its citizens based on income today, April 27, but the inability to use it at gas stations has caused some public resentment.
Here is the latest situation regarding the impact of the US-Iran war on the international economy, financial markets, and people's livelihoods:
● South Korea distributes high oil price support funds, but gas stations cannot accept them, causing public resentment
The South Korean government, to ease the burden of high oil prices and high commodity prices caused by the Middle East war on its citizens, began distributing "high oil price victim support funds" sequentially from April 27 to 70% of the population based on income, approximately 32.56 million people (about 63% of the national population). Each person receives a minimum of 100,000 Korean won (approximately NT$2,000) and a maximum of 600,000 Korean won (nearly NT$13,000).
According to Yonhap News, although this support fund is nominally for "high oil price victims," gas stations with annual revenues exceeding 3 billion Korean won are excluded from its use. Since taxes account for a high proportion of oil prices, revenue is far greater than actual profit, leading to criticism that the government's usage restrictions are out of touch with reality.
● Thai government to issue consumer subsidies in June
The Thai government will launch the "Thai Help Thai Plus" subsidy program, which is expected to be approved by the cabinet in May and officially launched in June. Eligible individuals will receive a monthly subsidy of 1,000 Thai baht (approximately NT$972) for four months, totaling 4,000 Thai baht.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that he hopes this short-term measure will alleviate the pressure of living costs and promote economic growth.
● Japanese car sales to Middle East hindered, Chinese cars seize opportunity to grab market
According to the Daily Economic News, with navigation disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru, which have long dominated the Middle East market, have successively cut production and even suspended exports to the Middle East. Some Middle Eastern car dealers have had to wait two months for imported cars, leaving them with no cars to sell.
The report mentioned that without Japanese cars, these Middle Eastern car dealers urgently adjusted their procurement lists, focusing on Chinese-made cars, and used the Beijing Auto Show, which opened on April 24, to negotiate import matters on site. This signifies a loosening of Japanese cars' foundation in the Middle East market, creating an opportunity for Chinese car companies to make breakthroughs in the region.
● China's crude oil imports increase by nearly 9% in Q1
The Middle East war has led to a near-de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting crude oil supply in some countries. Zhang Xing, Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration of China, stated on April 27 that according to industry monitoring, China's crude oil output from January to March was 54.8 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.3%; crude oil imports were 146.838 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%.
China is the world's largest crude oil importer. According to previous reports by Reuters, China's crude oil import sources are, in order, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
● Iran war disrupts PCB supply chain, technology firms' costs soar
Iran attacked the Jubail petrochemical park in Saudi Arabia in early April, forcing the shutdown of high-purity polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin production lines.
PPE is one of the key raw materials for manufacturing printed circuit board (PCB) substrates, and PCBs are widely used in various electronic devices, from smartphones and computers to artificial intelligence (AI) servers.
An informed source revealed that SABIC, which operates the Jubail park, controls about 70% of the global supply of high-purity PPE resin, and production has not yet resumed, leading to an extreme shortage of PPE in the global market. In addition, the war has also severely disrupted maritime logistics in the Persian Gulf region.
● War disrupts energy market, European Central Bank plans to maintain interest rates and observe situation
Eurozone inflation reached 2.6% in March, higher than the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of 2%; the ECB warned that in the worst-case scenario, inflation could rise significantly further.
Despite this, economists generally expect the ECB to remain on hold at its April 30 meeting, keeping the benchmark deposit rate at 2%. (Editor: Yang Zhaoyan) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.
Keywords: