Oil Prices to Stay Above $100: Middle East Conflict and Shipping Disruptions Reshape Global Crude Market

The global oil market is bracing for a prolonged period of elevated prices, with Brent crude expected to remain above $100 per barrel regardless of short-term developments in the Gulf. The eight-month-old Middle East conflict and resulting shipping disruptions have fundamentally altered supply chains, creating a new floor for crude prices. Analysts note that even if tensions ease temporarily, the structural damage to logistics and lingering geopolitical risk will keep prices high. Key shipping routes remain vulnerable, adding persistent risk premiums. For consumers and businesses, this means sustained high energy costs, potentially fueling inflation and slowing economic growth. As the dust settles, the true extent of the market's transformation is becoming clear: $100 oil is the new normal, not an anomaly.