# Gulf Oil Exports Recover Near Prewar Levels, but Hormuz Carries 60% By Enna Lee Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/27454 Published: 2026-10-07T13:58:01.000Z Updated: 2026-10-07T13:58:01.000Z Section: Investing > Gulf crude and condensate exports excluding Iran reached roughly 16.5 million barrels per day in September, while bypass routes and ship-to-ship transfers kept logistics complex. Gulf crude and condensate exports excluding Iran recovered near prewar levels in September, but only 60% crossed the Strait of Hormuz, preserving a major logistics bottleneck for energy markets. The September total reached roughly 16.5 million barrels per day, close to prewar levels. However, the share moving through Hormuz remained well below the previous 83% benchmark. Exporters instead used bypass pipelines, alternative ports and ship-to-ship transfers, increasing logistical complexity and tanker use. Saudi Arabia’s total exports climbed to roughly 6.9 million barrels per day in September from 2.45 million barrels per day in August. Nineteen very large crude carriers crossed Hormuz during one week, while shuttle tankers transferred crude to larger vessels in the Gulf of Oman. The figures vary by measurement scope. A separate estimate put September crude exports from key Middle Eastern producers at 16.328 million barrels per day and Hormuz exports at about 9.719 million barrels per day. Applying the 60% Hormuz share to the 16.5 million-barrel estimate implies roughly 9.9 million barrels per day through the strait. The waterway connects Gulf oil producers with shipping routes leading to the Arabian Sea. It carried an average of 20 million barrels per day in 2024, equivalent to about 20% of global petroleum-liquids consumption. The latest data extends [earlier coverage of Middle East oil flows recovering to about 80% of pre-conflict levels](), while showing that headline export volumes and normal shipping patterns remain separate measures. ## Links in this article - [earlier coverage of Middle East oil flows recovering to about 80% of pre-conflict levels](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/27023)