Iraqi, Gulf oil exports via Hormuz recover to previous levels

The Gambia-flagged tanker vessel Bili is pictured anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on May2, 2026. Photo: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Kpler recorded on Thursday a large number of oil tankers passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz with US escort. Iran has largely blocked the strait following the start of its war with the United States and Israel in late February 2026. Between September 22 and 28, the average flow of non-Iranian crude oil from Gulf countries and Iraq through the Strait of Hormuz reached 13.5 million barrels per day, a figure comparable to pre-war levels. This recovery comes as Iranian oil exports themselves face disruption due to the naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports. According to Kpler’s data, at least ten oil tankers departed the Saudi port of Yanbu loaded with crude oil over the weekend, including one bound for Fos-sur-Mer in southern France. On Sunday, 9.5 million barrels of oil were exported from the Yanbu terminal—the highest daily volume since the conflict began. Global maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains below pre-war levels, while vessels traversing the strait continue to face the risk of attack. Prior to the conflict, about one fifth of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a major point of contention between Tehran and Washington.