Oil exports from the Middle East in September 2026 approached pre-war levels

In September 2026, oil exports from the Middle East rose sharply, approaching the levels seen before Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by The New York Times (NYT).

It is expected that this recovery could ease pressure on global energy prices. The publication cited data from the Kpler company, according to which in the first month of autumn an ​​average of 10 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day. Pipelines and ports that bypassed the strait carried six million barrels of crude oil out of the Gulf countries every day. Before the war with Iran began in late February, about 19 million barrels of oil were exported from the region daily by sea and other routes.

It is believed that the increase in oil exports indicates a possible weakening of Iran's control over this waterway.