{
  "id": 10698935,
  "title": "Middle East oil exports rise as LNG traffic through Hormuz picks up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/middle-east-oil-exports-rise-as-lng-traffic-through-hormuz-picks-up-10698935",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-29T13:13:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews Business",
    "slug": "euronews-business",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/29/middle-east-oil-exports-rise-as-lng-traffic-through-hormuz-picks-up"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Middle East crude oil exports surged in September to the highest monthly level since the Iran war commenced seven months ago, according to preliminary data from Kpler. The region's exports totaled 16.3 million barrels per day, falling short of the 19.5 million barrels a day exported in February. Saudi Arabia played a significant role in this increase, more than doubling its exports from 2.45 million barrels a day in August to approximately 5.4 million in September. Strain through the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reach around 9.7 million barrels daily, with Saudi Arabia sending additional crude from its Gulf terminals following damage to its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea. Several Qatar-linked LNG tankers also traversed Hormuz this month, following a prolonged absence in August. However, normal exports have not resumed, and QatarEnergy has extended force majeure notices until early December for some European and Asian customers. Edison, a major LNG customer, has experienced 35 missed deliveries since April, with 23 of them replaced by US gas under the company's 25-year contract with QatarEnergy, representing around 10% of Italy's total gas consumption. Force majeure permits suspension of contractual obligations when external events hinder fulfillment. The disruption began following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28th, the opening salvo of the ongoing war, which has severely reduced Hormuz traffic while both the US and Iran targeted commercial vessels in and around the strait. Despite an Iranian proposal to reopen Hormuz and end the conflict within seven days, US President Donald Trump dismissed it on Saturday. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that no infrastructure in the region would be secure unless Iran's security was guaranteed. Ship-tracking data revealed LNG shipments from Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal via GasLog Skagen off Sri Lanka and Al Ghashamiya to India. Al Daayen also delivered a Qatari cargo to China, while an empty Qatar-linked tanker, Al Mafyar, entered the strait on September 22nd. The precise number of Hormuz crossings remains uncertain due to some ships disabling their tracking systems during passage. Qatar exported only 18 LNG cargoes in the first six months of the war, compared to 509 in the same period a year earlier, according to ICIS data. Every LNG tanker leaving Qatar must navigate through Hormuz, as the nation lacks alternative export routes. Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi stated that constructing a pipeline around the strait would be economically unfeasible, as it would necessitate a new plant outside Qatar to convert piped gas into LNG before loading onto tankers. Repairs to damage caused by attacks on Ras Laffan are projected to take about three years, but the country's 12 undamaged production units could return to normal operations within weeks once safe and regular ship passage through Hormuz resumes.",
  "summary": "Months into the war with Iran, Gulf exporters are finding ways to keep oil and gas moving, but crossing Hormuz remains risky and some customers are still missing contracted cargoes.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10698935.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/implementing-further-relief-programme-to-public-sffected-by-the",
        "published": "2026-09-29T11:51:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Middle East oil exports rise as LNG traffic through Hormuz picks up",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/middle-east-oil-exports-rise-as-lng-traffic-through-hormuz-picks-up",
        "published": "2026-09-29T13:13:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Middle East conflict pushed Ghana fuel prices higher in first half of 2026 – COMAC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/middle-east-conflict-pushed-ghana-fuel-prices-higher-in-first-half-of",
        "published": "2026-09-29T14:22:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}