Hormuz Crude Flows Climb To Nearly 8M Barrels Despite Ongoing Attacks

Iran keeps striking tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf producers keep shipping anyway. Crude flows through the chokepoint have climbed to nearly 8M barrels a day, still roughly half prewar levels, as producers across the region ramp up loadings despite the risk. For investors bracing for higher inflation, that’s one less reason to worry.

• Satellite imagery showed Saudi Arabia’s highest tanker count in several weeks — a sign the Middle Eastern energy powerhouse is pushing more crude onto the water.
• Meanwhile, Qatar and Kuwait have clawed back to 70% of pre-conflict export levels — deploying shuttles to reach tankers avoiding the Strait’s risk entirely.

The diplomatic dividend: As exports recover, Iran and Oman are advancing talks — with coordinated mine-clearing laying groundwork for a “permanent navigation corridor.” That easing of tension is already showing up in oil prices, with Brent on pace for its biggest weekly drop since late June. The relief spread to equities too, as Tuesday’s stock gains and falling yields reflect cooling inflation fears. Investors are now watching whether that goodwill can survive contact with the broader US-Iran war talks.