The Asian Development Bank said that the Middle East conflict has heightened global geopolitical risks, and the economic downward pressure faced by developing economies in Asia and the Pacific is increasing. Xinhua News Agency reported that the Asian Development Bank released the "Asian Development Outlook 2026" report on Friday (April 10), saying that despite limited direct trade with Middle Eastern economies, developing economies in Asia and the Pacific are highly susceptible to spillover effects from global energy markets, trade and transport networks, and the financial environment. Among these, fertilizers, urea, ammonia, and other products mainly supplied by the Middle East are mostly transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions in production and transportation have led to supply shortages and price increases, raising agricultural costs and potentially pushing up food prices. Additionally, disruptions in the transportation of chip raw materials such as helium, sulfur, and petrochemical products may also impact the semiconductor industry. The ADB predicts that if the Middle East situation stabilizes sooner, the economic growth rate of developing economies in Asia and the Pacific will slow down from 5.4% in 2025 to 5.1% in both 2026 and 2027, while the inflation rate will rise from 3.0% in 2025 to 3.6% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027. The report pointed out that if the chaotic situation in the Middle East continues until the third quarter of this year, the economic growth rates of developing economies in Asia and the Pacific in 2026 and 2027 may slow down to 4.7% and 4.8% respectively, and the inflation rate is expected to rise to 5.6% in 2026. Park Ji-soo, the ADB's chief economist, said that rising energy prices will increase production costs and prices. If the chaotic situation extends, it will further drive up energy prices, exacerbate inflation, and further drag down regional economic growth prospects. In addition, risks such as tariff increases and trade policy uncertainties may also disrupt the global supply chain and weaken external demand.