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Home News Mid-East Oil Exports Persist Despite Reduced Hormuz Traffic

Mid-East Oil Exports Continue Despite Reduced Hormuz Traffic

Sep 22, 2026
60 min
4
Sep 22, 2026 00:31
Mid-East oil producers continue exporting on tankers traveling with their transponders switched off: report

## Tankers Operating Without Transponders

Oil exports from the Middle East are ongoing despite a significant reduction in visible tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Many tankers are reportedly operating with their transponders switched off, making them invisible to standard tracking systems.

## Decline in Visible Traffic

Recent data indicates a sharp decline in the number of commodity vessels passing through the Strait. Over a recent weekend, only 17 vessels were recorded, a drop from 37 the previous weekend, and significantly lower than the pre-war average of 125 vessels daily.

## Ship-to-Ship Transfers

To maintain oil flow, ship-to-ship transfers are being utilized outside the Gulf. For instance, a large crude carrier recently transferred about 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil to another vessel bound for China.

## Criticism of Tracking Data

Critics argue that current tracking data is not fully accurate, as many ships are using routes that bypass standard tracking systems. This includes a southern route near Oman, where ships travel with their automatic identification systems turned off.

## Export Figures

During the week of September 13, approximately 42 million barrels of oil were transported through Hormuz, with Saudi Arabia and Iraq being major contributors to these exports.

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