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Brent soared to 80+ dollars per barrel in the space of 48 hours. The Strait of Hormuz is paralyzed. Donald Trump oscillates between threats and ceasefires. While the markets are shaking, some online retailers will lose margins — and others will get rich. The difference? Real-time data and management responsiveness. Here's how not to be on the wrong side.
Since the beginning of March 2026, the global oil market has entered a zone of historic turmoil. The American-Israeli strikes against Iran have triggered a chain reaction: the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, tankers attacked, and a geopolitical risk premium integrated into the prices. In a few hours, the barrel of Brent jumped by more than 9%, approaching 80 dollars, far from 61 dollars at the beginning of the year.
It's not just an oil war. It's a supply chain war — and your online store is at the end of that chain.
⚠️ E-commerce alert: when ocean freight explodes, delivery times get longer, packaging and energy costs increase, and your margins melt without you immediately realizing it. Unless you're driving in real time.
Donald Trump is at the heart of the equation. Its transactional approach to crises — shocking announcements followed by partial withdrawals — creates artificial volatility that is extremely profitable for those who know how to read it. When Trump declared an “encouraging” outcome to the conflict, oil fell by 10% in 24 hours. When the pressure increases, the barrel rises again.
“Trump's Achilles heel is high oil prices.” — Michelle Brouhard, analyst at Kpler
This geopolitical yo-yo has a direct effect on your transport costs, your Asian suppliers (whose imports pass massively through Hormuz), and the buying behavior of your customers. A consumer who pays more for his tank of gas buys differently online.
With procurement costs that can range from 15% to 30% in a few weeks, merchants using tools like Klark.app or Klar Analytics instantly see the impact on their net margins per product. The others discover the carnage on their quarterly report. The difference between the two is survival.
Digital products, online training, subscriptions, digital services — their “delivery” cost does not change when the Strait of Hormuz closes. Merchants on Shopify or PrestaShop who have integrated a line of digital products into their catalog are now protected from some of the shock. Now is the time to do it if it is not yet the case.
Tools like HubSpot or Klaviyo allow you to segment your customer base and test targeted price adjustments before deploying them globally. In times of inflationary crisis, those who test quickly and correct quickly preserve their margins. Anyone who waits “for it to stabilize” takes the rise without defense.
In times of economic instability, cash flow becomes real luxury. Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments: each platform has its payment deadlines. Centralizing and requesting transfers from a single interface — this is exactly what Klark.app allows — can save you 5 to 10 additional days of cash flow. Right now, these days are worth gold.
The oil crisis and geopolitical tensions have reactivated a strong desire for local consumption among the French. “Made in France”, “Delivery from Lyon”, “Stock available immediately” — these messages are converting right now better than they ever did. It is a free, immediate, and sustainable lever.
Crises eliminate the least reactive actors and consolidate the positions of the most agile. Merchants who use AI prospecting and workflow automation agents continue to generate leads while competitors reduce their marketing budgets out of fear. It is exactly the right time to accelerate, not to brake.
Not all categories are the same in the face of the crisis. Here are the sectors that see their demand explode when oil soars.
Soft and electric mobility — electric bikes, scooters, accessories. Each fuel surge sends new customers to these alternatives.
Home energy and autonomy — portable solar panels, storage batteries, LED bulbs, insulation equipment. The fear of the next bill is the best salesman in the industry.
Storable food and short supply chains — consumers stock up when they are afraid. Food e-retailers in short supply chains benefit from the double effect of “economic patriotism” + “fear of shortage”.
Productivity tools and SaaS — when physical budgets are tight, businesses invest in tools that save them time and money. SaaS is counter-cyclical by nature.
This conflict, regardless of the diplomatic outcome, has highlighted three structural truths for e-commerce in the coming years.
First, dependence on long international supply chains is a survival risk, not just an operational risk. Retailers who have diversified their suppliers and reduced their exposure to Asia are in the process of measuring this in practice.
Second, the speed of decision will separate winners from losers more sharply than before. Tools like Klark.app are no longer “nice to have” management tools — they are survival infrastructures in a volatile environment.
Thirdly, customer trust is going to become the rare currency. Consumers scared of inflation will buy less but better — and they'll stay loyal to brands that showed them transparency and responsiveness during the crisis. Building this trust now means ensuring a sustainable competitive advantage.
Geopolitical and oil crises have always had the same effect: they amplify differences. E-retailers who drive with accurate data, who have diversified their revenues, who have diversified their revenues, who are automating their processes and who maintain their commercial activity despite the turbulence — those are coming out stronger. The others suffer.
The question is not “will this crisis affect me?” It already is. The question is, “do I have the right tools to get through and out of it in a position of advance?”
Klark.app centralizes your Shopify, PrestaShop, Stripe and PayPal stores in a single dashboard. Real-time margins, consolidated cash flow, instant payment alerts.
