Dow CEO warns petrochemical shortage from Iran war could fuel inflation for rest of the year

Dow chairman and CEO Jim Fitterling has issued a stark warning regarding the global economic fallout from the war in Iran. According to Fitterling, the conflict has triggered a massive shortage in petrochemicals—essential components for everything from plastics to fertilizers. He estimates that even if the conflict were to stabilize, the logistics of unwinding these shortages and restoring global supply chains could take up to 275 days. This disruption is expected to be a major driver of inflation for the remainder of 2026, as increased costs are passed down to consumers across multiple sectors.