The ongoing conflict has compelled Middle Eastern oil exporters like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to divert crude through alternative routes such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Fujairah port, despite existing capacity limitations. Global energy import bills swelled by an additional $330 billion between March and August, with Brent and WTI crude prices now trading above $90 per barrel. Resource-poor nations like Japan, which previously relied almost entirely on the Middle East, are now securing more diversified suppliers from the U.S., Canada, Africa, and Azerbaijan, leading to a record $76.39 billion import bill for July.