A Summary of Impacts to the Global Economy

By Mark Davidson on March 23, 2026 • ( 0 )

(23 March 2026) As you should be well aware of now, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed for the last three weeks. We are currently waiting to hear if the crude oil stoppage will last several days or several years.

We should know in another day or two or three.

As an excellent news piece from the Economist titled, “The Iran war is roiling commodities far beyond oil” reports, the impacts to the world economy go far beyond just oil and natural gas.

And so there will be many more ways the second horseman will take peace of mind away from the earth.

I can only summarize here since the article is available by subscription.

Three major and broad industries impacted are transport, manufacturing, and food production.

Transport—Oil, gas, and fuel products are becoming harder to obtain, with jet fuel being hit hardest. Many poorer countries in Africa and Asia will be out of fuel within 12 to 36 days. Therefore, travel anywhere far away only if the Lord is telling you to do so. You might be there for years.

Manufacturing—Plastics such as styrene and polyethylene used in containers and everything else, are cut 30 percent in availability. Active ingredients in drugs including aspirin are cut by one-third. Aluminum production has been cut. One-third of the helium is now gone, which is used for things like making computer chips, and supporting your medical MRI tests.

Food production—Fertilizer availability is now cut by one-quarter to one-half depending on the country. If enough fertilizer is not available in the next very few weeks, it will be too late for the 2026 growing season in the northern hemisphere. Two crops that are the most-nutrient hungry that will be more heavily impacted will be corn and wheat. The third horseman might appear as early as this Fall or next year, with a day’s wage going to buy wheat.

Conclusion

Try to imagine how all these commodities if higher in price and not as available will affect the world economy and people’s peace of mind. This post talked a little bit about the added misery in India.

Even if the Iran War ends at the end of March and the Strait is reopened, the impacts will be felt in availability and higher prices through much of the world for all kinds of products and services, for weeks or months.

If Iran carries through on its threat, these impacts will be felt for years, the Second Signpost will officially have begun because the second horseman will have taken away the peace of mind of the earth. Our world will be on the path through the Third and Fourth Signposts for an encounter with the God of the universe.

Keep watch.

Be prepared.

Maranatha!