Middle East Crude Exports Plummet by 39% Amid Global Market Volatility

Middle East crude oil exports have seen a significant decline in recent months. According to data from TankerTrackers, exports in August were down 39% compared to their January-February 2026 baseline of 18.5 million barrels per day.

This represents an export deficit of 7.2 million barrels per day, which is a decrease from the 12.4 million barrels per day deficit reported in May.

The countries affected by this decline include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

TankerTrackers believes that exports may recover in the coming months for most of these countries, but notes that Iran's exports may remain at zero depending on any agreement or developments.