Middle East Crude Exports Surge Past Pre-War Levels
Middle Eastern crude oil exports have rebounded past pre-war levels for the first time since the conflict erupted in late February, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler. Excluding Iranian shipments, the region's weekly average of crude shipments surpassed the pre-conflict baseline of 18 million barrels per day (bpd) last week. Daily exports peaked between 19.5 million and 22.5 million bpd during the final week of September, pushing the seven-day moving average to 18.5 million bpd.
The export surge includes shipments passing through critical maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, as well as offshore terminal loadings and ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman. Beyond crude, the total volume of petroleum products, chemicals, and non-gas liquids averaged 22.4 million bpd in the seven days leading up to September 30. Additionally, liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel departures through the Strait of Hormuz hit their highest monthly throughput since February.
The data reflects a resilient output and active routing by regional producers aiming to maintain global energy supply lines despite heightened security risks and military action in key waterways. This recovery signals a strong bounce-back in outbound tanker volumes, even as threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz persist.