{
  "id": 12093674,
  "title": "Middle East crude oil exports exceed pre-war levels but tanker attacks increase",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/middle-east-crude-oil-exports-exceed-pre-war-levels-but-tanker-12093674",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T06:54:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40442700/middle-east-crude-oil-exports-exceed-pre-war-levels-but-tanker-attacks-increase"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Crude oil shipments from the Middle East surpassed pre-war benchmarks for several days in late September, data revealed on Monday. However, the Strait of Hormuz saw persistent skirmishes with at least seven attacks reported on tankers.\n\nExports surged to between 19.5 million and 22.5 million barrels per day between September 24 and 29, according to provisional figures from Kpler, a ship-tracking firm. This represents a 7-day average of 18.5 million bpd, up from 18 million bpd from March 2025 to February 2025.\n\nThe total crude, oil products, chemicals, and non-gas liquids averaged 22.4 million bpd in the seven days ending September 30, as per Kpler data. The number of liquefied natural gas cargoes exiting the Strait of Hormuz also hit a monthly high since February.\n\nBefore Iran's conflict began on February 28, the strait accommodated around 125 large commercial vessels daily, encompassing roughly 20% of the world's daily crude oil and LNG supply. However, attacks on tankers persisted in and around the Strait of Hormuz.\n\nMarisks, a shipping intelligence firm, reported incidents including the Kazimah III, a very large crude carrier, which was hit on October 1, leading to a fire onboard. The crew were safely evacuated. Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency recorded a daily attack in the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Aden since October 2.\n\nExperts suggest the attacks might not be targeted at individual vessels but rather Iranian forces launching missiles into a predetermined 'kill box' area. This could expose merchant vessels simply present in the engagement zone to risk.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: Crude oil exports from the Middle East rose above pre-war levels in four of the seven days of the final week of September, shipping data showed on Monday, despite attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz . Crude exports from the region exceeded pre-war levels on September 24 and between September 27 and 29, rising to between 19.5 million barrels per day and 22.5 million…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The surge in Middle East crude oil exports to pre-war levels, despite increased tanker attacks, indicates that shipping disruptions have not yet curbed oil flows, but vessel safety risks have escalated.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Middle East crude oil exports exceed pre-war levels but tanker attacks increase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/middle-east-crude-oil-exports-exceed-pre-war-levels-but-tanker",
        "published": "2026-10-05T01:18:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Oil prices ease slightly as G7 and Middle East crude supplies set to hit market",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/oil-prices-ease-slightly-as-g7-and-middle-east-crude-supplies-set-to",
        "published": "2026-10-05T02:00:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Middle East crude oil exports exceed pre-war levels but tanker attacks increase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/middle-east-crude-oil-exports-exceed-pre-war-levels-but-tanker-12063059",
        "published": "2026-10-05T02:52:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Peninsula Qatar Business",
        "title": "Oil prices slip as rising Middle East exports, G7 reserves ease supply concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/oil-prices-slip-as-rising-middle-east-exports-g7-reserves-ease-supply",
        "published": "2026-10-05T08:22:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}