Total Middle East crude exports rose to 12.8 million bpd in September, the highest regional volume since fighting began in February. US Central Command facilitated the rebound by opening daytime transits through the Strait of Hormuz to accommodate Saudi needs. While analysts at HFI Research warn these flows provide a false sense of market stability, and regional exports still trail February levels by about 6 million bpd, total Persian Gulf flows have returned to 94% of pre-war levels.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Saudi Oil Exports Hit 6M Bpd Highest Level Since Iran War Began
Commodities23 days ago
Riyadh increased its crude oil shipments this month to levels seen before the current conflict with Iran, returning to a daily average of 6 million bpd. This recovery, tracked by Kpler, matches the monthly average from 2025 and nearly doubles August volumes of roughly 3.4 million bpd. To bypass a drone attack that knocked the East-West pipeline offline, Saudi Arabia diverted exports away from the Red Sea port of Yanbu toward the Strait of Hormuz using a shipping lane along Oman's coast secured by the US military.
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