Middle East oil exports surpass pre-Hormuz closure levels
Middle East oil exports surpass pre-Hormuz closure levels
2026-10-05
Shafaq News – Middle East
Shipping data released on Monday showed that crude oil exports from the Middle East surpassed pre-war levels during the last week of September, despite continued attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to preliminary data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, crude exports ranged between 19.5 million and 22.5 million barrels per day on September 24 and between September 27 and 29, compared to an average of 18 million barrels per day during the period from March 2025 to last February, before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Average crude exports over the seven days ending October 1st reached 18.5 million barrels per day, while average shipments of crude oil, refined products, chemicals, and non-gas liquids totaled 22.4 million barrels per day over the seven days ending September 30th. The number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments departing through the Strait of Hormuz in September also rose to its highest monthly level since February.
This data does not include vessels that may have transited the strait with their transponders disabled to avoid detection. Before the outbreak of war on February 28, the strait saw approximately 125 large commercial vessels pass through daily, carrying roughly 20% of the world’s daily supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
In contrast, shipping information company Maersk said attacks on tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz continued, with at least seven incidents recorded. It noted that the supertanker Kazma 3 was struck by an unidentified projectile on October 1, causing a fire on board, but reported that its crew members were unharmed and subsequently evacuated.
The company warned that commercial vessels are facing an increasing and unpredictable threat, suggesting that the danger is related to the presence of ships within specific engagement zones where missiles may track available radar signals, rather than to the targeting of specific ships.
shafaq.com
