Oil Hits $100 — Which Asian Economies Survive the Hormuz Crisis? | Brendan Ahern

The episode explores the geopolitical and economic fallout of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which has disrupted 80% of Asia's oil supply. With oil prices surpassing $100 a barrel and key infrastructure like Qatar's LNG terminal shut down, the crisis is exposing deep vulnerabilities across Asia. Brendan Ahern, Chief Investment Officer at Crane Shares, analyzes country-by-country exposure, revealing Japan and the Philippines as most vulnerable due to near-total reliance on Middle Eastern oil, while China, India, and Singapore have stronger buffers thanks to stockpiles and diversified energy sources. China's strategic oil reserves—estimated at 80–130 days of supply—and its dominance in renewable energy and clean tech, including EVs and batteries via companies like BYD and CATL, position it as a relative winner. Ahern also highlights the growing importance of China's STAR Market, particularly with the upcoming IPO of Unitree, a leading humanoid robotics firm, and the investment potential in ETFs like KSTR and K-Green China Clean Tech. Despite global interdependence, China’s domestic resilience and technological self-reliance offer a unique advantage. The discussion concludes with a forward-looking perspective on U.S.-China relations, suggesting that a potential Trump visit to China could ease tensions and benefit both economies.