Mideast Oil Exports Rebound Even as Prices Remain Elevated

Oil exports from the Middle East have risen sharply this month, taking them closer to pre-war levels after Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz in March. According to Kpler, an average of 10 million barrels of oil has gone through the waterway daily in September, with six million barrels leaving Persian Gulf states through pipelines and ports bypassing the strait. Before the conflict, around 19 million barrels of crude left the region daily through the waterway and other routes.

A U.S. military operation protecting vessels appears to have encouraged more shipments by major exporters like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. While the increase shows Iran may be losing control of the strait, prices remain elevated and the global supply is still below demand. Experts warn that Iran could escalate attacks, and maintaining U.S. military protection requires significant resources.

中东石油出口本月激增，使其接近战前水平，此前伊朗在3月关闭了霍尔木兹海峡。根据Kpler的数据，9月份霍尔木兹海峡日均输送石油达1000万桶，其中600万桶来自波斯湾国家，通过管道和港口绕过海峡。冲突前，该地区通过水道和其他路线每日输送原油约1900万桶。美国军方保护船只的行动似乎鼓励了主要出口国如沙特阿拉伯和阿拉伯联合酋长国的更多装运。虽然这一增长表明伊朗可能正在失去对海峡的控制，但价格仍然居高不下，全球供应仍低于需求。专家警告称，伊朗可能升级袭击，而维持美国军方的保护需要大量资源。