US Oil Reserve Cargo Arrives in California Amid Middle East Supply Disruptions

A cargo of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been delivered to California for the first time, according to ship tracking service Kpler.

The unusual shipment highlights the changing dynamics in global trade flows and shipping routes due to the Iran war, which has disrupted Middle Eastern crude supplies.

California, once a major oil-producing state, has become increasingly reliant on imported crude, including 230,000 barrels per day from the Middle East last year.

About 460,000 barrels of Bayou Choctaw Sweet crude were delivered to Chevron's Richmond refinery in California, while another 50,000 barrels were discharged at Chevron's El Segundo refinery.