The results of PwC Malta’s latest CEO Confidence Tracker reveal a key concern among local chief executives for the first half of 2026: the anticipated impact of the escalating Iran conflict on operations. Nonetheless, the overall business results and outlook trends remained on the positive side.
A significant 87.1% of CEOs surveyed foresee some impact from the Iran conflict on their business, with 45% rating this impact as moderate or high. This highlights how geopolitical risk has become a crucial factor in boardroom discussions, influencing how Maltese businesses plan for the future.
This concern further underscores Malta's deep ties with global trade routes, energy markets, and international supply chains, meaning developments in the Middle East quickly affect the local business landscape. Ongoing tariff tensions and supply-chain pressures add to this cautious outlook.
While broader indicators in the tracker show that business results and outlook trends remain positive, the Iran conflict stands out in this survey. CEOs are indicating that, although domestic conditions are stable, the external risk environment demands closer monitoring of energy costs, logistics, and cross-border exposures.
The recently published CEO Confidence Tracker emphasises the growing importance of geopolitical awareness in business strategy. With nearly nine in ten CEOs expecting some level of impact from the Iran conflict, and almost half anticipating a moderate or high impact, our findings stress the need for scenario planning, supply-chain resilience, and careful risk management as businesses navigate the coming months. At PwC Malta, we will continue to track CEO sentiment every six months, providing timely insights into how the country's business leaders perceive the operating environment.
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