Hormuz Oil Flows Rebound to Pre-Conflict Levels Amid Refining Capacity Woes

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright revealed on Fox News that approximately 13 million barrels of oil are flowing through the Strait of Hormuz daily, under American military facilitation. This figure represents a significant partial recovery from the near-total disruption caused by the conflict. On one day last week, more than 20 million barrels transited the waterway, surpassing pre-conflict levels.

Wright confirmed that US forces are helping to transport oil, gas, and fertilizers through the strait, framing their military presence as a positive logistics enabler for global energy trade. The figure of 13 million barrels per day is roughly 65% of pre-war flow levels, consistent with estimates from Bloomberg.

The Energy Secretary also addressed concerns over energy prices, stating that 'the pricing problem today is much more refining capacity than it actually is the flow of oil.' This distinction has significant policy implications, as refining capacity constraints cannot be resolved by reopening Hormuz alone. Wright added that the US produces more natural gas than Iran, Russia, and China combined, underlining America's dominant position in the global energy supply landscape.