Middle East Crude Exports Rebound to 12.8 Million Bpd Led by Saudi Arabia

Middle East crude oil exports rose to 12.8 million barrels per day this month, according to preliminary Kpler data cited by Reuters, as Gulf producers redirected flows eastward following a pipeline outage. Saudi Arabia led the rebound, exporting 5.4 million bpd and redirecting volumes from western routes to the east, where crude is loaded via ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman. Ras Tanura port on the Persian Gulf is shipping 3.6 million bpd, roughly in line with the kingdom's 2025 daily average. Gulf producers hit a daily total of 13.2 million barrels on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — still below the pre-war average of about 17 million bpd. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains weak, with movements dropping below 10 versus a 10-day average of 18. Some vessels are transiting in dark mode amid attack risks. Iranian media reported explosions in Hormuz over the weekend, with analysts expecting more strikes after the U.S. rejected Iran's peace proposal.