Crude oil exports from the strait of Hormuz have rebounded to pre-war levels, according to analysts tracking the situation, as producers and shipping companies employ alternative routes to move fuel from the Middle East.
Pipeline exports and ship-to-ship transfers are among the methods now in use, the Guardian reports. The US military continues to escort some vessels through the region.
Refined product flows, however, remain constrained. Diesel shipments in particular have not recovered to earlier levels, pushing prices higher for that fuel type.
The recovery in crude volumes marks a shift from disruptions that followed the outbreak of the Iran war. While the strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for Middle Eastern oil, the diversification of transport methods has allowed producers to maintain export momentum despite ongoing tensions.
The divergence between crude and refined product availability reflects different logistical challenges. Crude can be moved via pipeline and transferred between ships at sea, but refined products face tighter bottlenecks in their distribution networks.