Hormuz Oil Flows Rebound Despite Ongoing Tensions

Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have significantly increased since the conflict between the US and Iran began over seven months ago. According to major international analysts, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, oil flows have recovered rapidly, with some estimates suggesting that in recent weeks, they have exceeded 10 million barrels per day. However, this is still lower than the pre-conflict level of around 15 million barrels per day.

The situation is more severe for fuels, with estimated flows at around 2.5 million barrels, down from around 6 million before the conflict. The decrease in fuel exports is attributed to damage sustained by Gulf refineries during the fighting.

Two scenarios are being considered to explain the recovery of oil flows: either the US military operations have weakened Iran's ability to disrupt shipping, or some countries and companies may be paying Tehran a secret fee for safe passage. The latter scenario is supported by international analysts who claim that such payments may have already begun.