Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its oil shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz following the recent U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen this vital maritime route. This development not only highlights the ongoing geopolitical complexities in the region but also underscores the crucial role of the Strait of Hormuz in global oil supply.
Surge in Oil Exports
Since June 17, Saudi Arabia has dispatched approximately 34 million barrels of oil through the Strait, according to figures from Kpler, a trade intelligence company. This volume represents a dramatic surge—over twice the amount (15 million barrels) shipped during the earlier three months from March 9 to June 17. Kpler analyst Jashan Prema noted that this revival in crude oil flows is a direct response to months of rerouting caused by geopolitical tensions, particularly the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Analysis from Kpler indicates that around 24 million barrels of the oil exported since mid-June were loaded either during or preceding the hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. This suggests that Saudi Arabia is not just resuming normal shipping operations; they are also addressing a backlog of tankers that were stranded in the Gulf due to the tensions. Notably, there remains approximately 17 million barrels of Saudi oil still in the Gulf, waiting to be shipped.
Resumption of Export Operations
In response to the increase in private and commercial shipping activity, Saudi Arabia reduced its shipments from key Gulf terminals—Ras Tanura and Juaymah—beginning on March 9. This halt was triggered by a sharp decline in tanker traffic through the Strait due to Iranian attacks. Consequently, the kingdom rerouted a significant portion of its oil exports through an East-West pipeline to the more secure Red Sea terminal at Yanbu.
Currently, Riyadh is not merely clearing old shipments. Recent data indicates heightened activity with eleven supertankers entering the Gulf between June 23 and July 1. Out of these, eight have already loaded oil at Saudi terminals, and five have successfully exited via the Strait of Hormuz. This indicates a recommencement of standard logistical operations in the Gulf, alongside efforts to address the pre-war inventory of oil.
Ongoing Maritime Tensions
Despite these efforts, maritime stability remains precarious. Following a recent escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, including Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and U.S. military responses, tanker traffic has shown fluctuations. For instance, shipping traffic plummeted to only eight tankers on a recent Sunday but rebounded to sixteen vessels by the following Wednesday, demonstrating the volatile nature of operations in this crucial maritime corridor.
On that Wednesday, approximately 8.5 million barrels of crude oil were transported through the Strait. This figure aligns with previous data indicating that nearly 15 million barrels per day were moving through the waterway in 2025, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The dynamics surrounding the Strait of Hormuz will continue to evolve given the geopolitical landscape. Stakeholders, from national governments to multinational corporations, must monitor these developments closely, as any disruption could have significant repercussions for global oil prices and supply chains.