The Strait of Hormuz saw shipping volumes rise to approximately 7.4 million barrels per day in September as Middle Eastern producers ramped up crude exports. Total shipments from the region reached 12.8 million barrels per day, the highest volume since the conflict with Iran began in February, per Kpler data cited by Reuters. Saudi Arabia’s contributions to the total were between 5.4 million and 6 million barrels per day, with flows from the Ras Tanura terminal surging to 3.6 million barrels per day from 929,000 in August.

Riyadh diverted these cargoes away from the Red Sea port of Yanbu after drone attacks damaged the East-West pipeline. US Central Command facilitated the shift by opening daytime transits through the Strait of Hormuz, enabling vessels to use a secured Omani coastal route to maintain volume. Despite the recovery, total regional exports remain roughly 6 million barrels per day below February levels, and the increase in traffic has exhausted ship-to-ship transfer capacity in the Gulf of Oman.