Middle East oil exports rise despite increased tanker attacks
SINGAPORE — Crude oil exports from the Middle East once again exceeded pre-war levels in late September, despite continued attacks on tankers around the Strait of Hormuz.
Preliminary data from ship-tracking company Kpler showed that the region’s crude oil exports reached 19.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to 22.5 million bpd on 24 September and between 27 and 29 September. By comparison, before the US-Israel war with Iran began, crude oil exports from the region averaged 18 million bpd from March 2025 to February this year.
The calculation includes shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, exports from terminals, and ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman. Including oil products, chemicals, and non-gas liquids, total shipments from the region averaged 22.4 million bpd over the final seven days of September.
Liquefied Natural Gas Shipments Increase
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz also increased in September, reaching their highest monthly level since February. However, the data does not include vessels that may have switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders while transiting the strait to avoid detection.
Tanker Attacks Continue
Amid the high level of shipping activity, attacks on tankers around the Strait of Hormuz have also continued. Maritime intelligence company Marisks reported at least seven incidents through Saturday (3/10). One involved the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Kazimah III, which was reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile on 1 October while transiting the strait, triggering a fire on board.
“All crew members were reportedly safe and were subsequently evacuated from the vessel,” Marisks said. According to Kpler data, the Kazimah III was last seen carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude oil before unloading its cargo at Ras Markaz Port on the Omani coast on 17 September.
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, the vessel’s owner, did not respond to a request for comment sent outside business hours. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported at least one attack each day in the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Aden since 2 October.
Marisks said the sharp increase in vessel traffic meant that commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz faced an increasingly high and unpredictable risk of attack. However, the company said the latest series of incidents did not necessarily indicate that specific vessels were deliberately targeted.
According to Marisks, available information suggested that Iranian forces may have fired missiles at predetermined areas. The missiles could then detect and lock onto targets based on radar signals from vessels in those areas. Marisks said vessels in the area at a particular time remained at risk of being hit.
Original Article: Middle East oil exports rise despite increased tanker attacks — Idnfinancials