Reuters: The US Says More Oil is Leaving the Middle East, but is it really?
Vessel trackers say Middle East crude exports are 3 million to 5 million bpd below Wright’s estimate, raising questions about counting methods and hidden shipments.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed on August 12 that oil flows from the Middle East are recovering, citing almost 9 million bpd leaving the Strait of Hormuz and total regional exports averaging approximately 15 million bpd.
- Data from Kpler and LSEG Oil Research disputes these figures, revealing a gap of between 3 million and 5 million bpd compared to Wright's estimates. Vessel-tracking services report actual Strait of Hormuz shipments are significantly lower than the administration's claims.
- Kpler data shows crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz for the week beginning July 27 at just 2.77 million bpd. LSEG recorded Middle East crude exports of 9.33 million bpd for the first 12 days of August, down from 12.35 million bpd in July.
- If Wright's export figures were accurate, global arrival data should reflect increased Middle East supply within six weeks. Experts contend the current market remains tighter than the administration's optimistic narrative suggests.
- Discrepancies may stem from US Navy double-counting ship-to-ship transfers or missing clandestine shipments. Observers urge Wright to provide vessel names and cargo details to resolve the data conflict.
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Washington Says the Oil Is Still Moving Through Hormuz — and Its Own Explanation Is That the Tankers Are Hiding
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says far more oil is moving through the Gulf region than commercial ship tracking data suggests, and in an interview this week, he explained the logic behind his claim. The Trump administration official said that ships are passing through the strait with their AIS transponders off, meaning that they cannot be reliably tracked – and while the claims hold up, they are still not providing the confidence that shipp…
Trump Says US Has ‘Total Control’ of Hormuz as US Says More Oil Moving Than Trackers Show - The Thinking Conservative News
US has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and oil flows through the waterway are far above levels indicated by publicly available shipping data. The post Trump Says US Has ‘Total Control’ of Hormuz as US Says More Oil Moving Than Trackers Show appeared first on The Thinking Conservative News.
Trump Says US Has ‘Total Control’ of Hormuz
President Donald Trump has said the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said U.S. military efforts have helped push oil flows through the critical waterway to nearly 9 million barrels per day—far above levels indicated by publicly available shipping data. Speaking to reporters on Aug. 11, Trump rejected Iran’s claim that Tehran continues to control access to the strait, a choke poi…
US says more oil is leaving Middle East. Is it really?
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claims nearly nine million barrels daily leave the Strait of Hormuz. Vessel tracking services, however, report volumes closer to half this amount. Total Middle East crude exports remain below pre-conflict levels, according to tracking data.
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