Middle East crude exports topped pre-war levels in late September, reaching 19.5-22.5 million barrels per day, as ships bypass the Strait of Hormuz or use US escorts. A Kpler analyst speculated Gulf states may be paying Iran a toll for safe passage, a claim Tehran disputes and Washington rejects. Oil prices remain elevated amid insurance costs and war fears.
Iran Toll Claim Clouds Hormuz Oil Export Surge
Source: Al Jazeera