US says Hormuz oil flows recover to 14 million bpd despite Saudi attacks

According to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, up to 14 million barrels of oil per day are currently flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. This marks a recovery to between 80 and 90 percent of prewar levels, as Gulf crude supplies are being transported through pipelines that bypass Hormuz. Speaking at the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, Wright addressed the issue remotely, suggesting that while the crude problem persists, it is largely under control.

He painted a more optimistic picture than the data from analytics firm Kpler, which reported oil exports through Hormuz averaged about 9 million barrels per day in September, only 44 percent of the 20.6 million barrels per day recorded in February. About 22 vessels crossed the strait daily in the 30 days to October 12, with most of them being tankers.

The data, however, is provisional and subject to revision as more tracking information becomes available. Despite an attack on Riyadh airport that killed 13 people and injured around 300, Wright condemned the "cowardly attacks by the Houthis" and reaffirmed the United States' unwavering support for Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that the US remains committed to the kingdom despite heightened security concerns.