The AMEM emphasised resilience, regional connectivity, the energy transition, and the need for increased investments, reflecting ASEAN’s recognition that energy security is not just a domestic concern but is also linked to geopolitical stability, maritime security and strategic autonomy. One of ASEAN’s prevailing challenges is managing the immediate consequences of global energy disruptions while developing a diversified, resilient energy system for the future. To do so, cooperation with partners like India and Japan may play a significant role.

ASEAN’s Energy Vulnerabilities

Southeast Asia’s exposure to the Middle East conflict stems from its dependence on imported oil and its vulnerability to disruptions in international shipping routes. In 2025, around 56 per cent of ASEAN’s crude oil imports originated in the Middle East, which highlights the region’s vulnerability to geopolitical instability and disruptions along critical maritime routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz.[2] Disruptions caused by the conflict have heightened concerns about oil supply continuity, rising prices, and the availability of refined petroleum products.

These disruptions have economic and social consequences, including higher prices, increased transportation and electricity costs, and added pressure on households. These effects can intensify inflation in developing economies and undermine industrial competitiveness. Countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, which import energy, are vulnerable to price shocks, though the scale and exposure vary across ASEAN. The following table shows ASEAN dependence on crude oil from the Middle East from 2021 to 2025.

Source: ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), ASEAN Centre for Energy on the Situation in the Middle East and the Impact on ASEAN Energy Security[3]

The crisis has also revealed a structural contradiction in Southeast Asia’s energy landscape: domestic oil production has declined from its peaks, increasing the importance of external suppliers. For instance, Malaysia, despite being an oil-producing country, consumes around 700,000 barrels of oil daily while producing around 350,000 barrels, which makes it dependent on imports to bridge the gap.[4] During the Hormuz disruption, Malaysia’s Pengerang refinery shut down a crude-processing unit amidst constrained supplies, showcasing how domestic refining infrastructure remains vulnerable when imported crude cannot arrive reliably.[5]

At the same time, the region’s economic growth, industrialisation and urbanisation are expected to sustain demand for transport fuels and electricity. Vulnerabilities to geopolitical disruptions will remain even after the conflict subsides. The meeting in Manila offers ASEAN an opportunity to shift from crisis management to a more comprehensive framework for energy........

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