Middle East crisis may hit trade, says Crisil

New Delhi: A prolonged war in the Middle East could adversely affect several Indian sectors with direct trade exposure to the region, including basmati rice, fertilisers, diamond polishing, airlines and travel operators, according to Crisil Ratings. The rating agency said sectors dependent on imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), such as ceramics and fertilisers, may also face near-term production disruptions, while crude-linked industries including oil refiners, tyres, paints, specialty chemicals, flexible packaging and synthetic textiles could see cost pressures if energy prices remain elevated.