More Oil Than Expected Shipped from the Strait of Hormuz Confirmed
Maritime data analytics firm Kpler reported that daily oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz is higher than reported due to covert ship transfers and signal-blocking tactics.
Maritime analytics firm Kpler confirmed that an average of 8.6 million barrels of oil flows daily through the Strait of Hormuz, announcing that previously disclosed data fell short of this figure.
New Data from Kpler
Maritime analytics firm Kpler published a new update regarding the amount of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, confirming an average daily shipment of 8.6 million barrels. This update aligns with previous estimates made by the Trump administration.
Dark Voyages and Covert Transfers
Covert ship transfers that were not included in previous data tracking, along with dark voyages conducted by turning off location signals, caused the actual shipment volume to appear lower. Tankers turning off their transponders for days or weeks made tracking difficult.
Challenges in Shipment Calculations
Tankers wanting to avoid Iranian attack threats transferring their cargoes to other vessels in the region became another factor complicating the calculations. These cargoes were initially recorded as net exports from the Gulf of Oman rather than Strait of Hormuz exits.
White House and Analyst Views
The White House administration argued that data firms missed a significant portion of exports due to dark voyages. Kpler announced that with the reappearance of the missing ships, the picture has become clearer and past data has been updated.
Comparison with Pre-War Status
Although an increase has been observed in the average oil flow exiting the Strait of Hormuz since the memorandum of understanding signed in June, this amount still remains below half of the pre-war level of 20 million barrels per day.