War in the Middle East could hit car supplies from Asia: who is under threat
9 March 15:13
The escalation of the war between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other could jeopardize car deliveries from Asia to the Middle East—one of the key export destinations for regional automakers.
This was reported by the Ukravtoprom association , according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The Middle East plays an important role for many Asian manufacturers, as the Persian Gulf countries remain a large and rapidly growing market for imported cars.
China is the most vulnerable
The Chinese auto industry may bear the greatest risk from the conflict.
The Middle East is the second-largest foreign market for Chinese automakers.
In 2025:
- Chinese companies exported 8.32 million cars worldwide
- 1.39 million cars were delivered to the Persian Gulf countries
This makes the region one of the key areas for the growth of Chinese car exports.
India: a quarter of exports go to the region
Indian manufacturers are also heavily dependent on the Middle Eastern market.
In 2025, India:
- exported cars worth $8.8 billion
- 25% of these exports went to Middle Eastern countries
The main buyer of Indian cars in the region is Saudi Arabia.
South Korea and Japan
Supplies to the region are also important for other major Asian manufacturers.
South Korea
- Total automotive exports in 2025 — $72 billion
- Supplies to the Middle East — $5.3 billion
Japan
- Toyota exported 320,699 vehicles to the Middle East in 2025
This confirms that the region is important for all major automotive manufacturing centers in Asia.
Energy tensions increase risks
The conflict in the region is already beginning to affect the energy sector.
In particular, the Chinese government has demanded that large oil refineries stop exporting diesel fuel and gasoline.
The reason is the complication of oil supplies due to the escalation of the conflict in the Persian Gulf.
What this means for the global market
Disruption of logistics in the Persian Gulf region could lead to:
- delays in maritime transport of vehicles
- higher insurance and freight costs
- a reduction in exports to one of the most solvent markets
For Asian manufacturers, this means the risk of losing a significant portion of external demand, which could affect the growth rate of the global automotive industry.
