Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports surged in September to their highest level since the US-Iran war began nearly seven months ago, climbing about 80 percent from the previous month, according to data from Kpler, a company that tracks global trade and energy flows.
The news came as Saudi Arabia resumed overseas crude oil shipments through its East-West Pipeline, ending a 17-day export stoppage from the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
Kpler’s figures indicate that the Kingdom shipped roughly 6 million barrels of crude per day during September. This brought Saudi crude exports close to the monthly average seen in 2025, a Saudi Gazette report said.
The rise in shipments came even as Saudi Arabia temporarily shut the East-West oil pipeline as a precaution earlier this month. The Kingdom subsequently routed a portion of its crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz after the US military established a shipping corridor along Oman’s coast.
🚨 BOOM: Saudi Arabia just nearly DOUBLED its oil exports from August to September despite Iran-backed militias going berserk, now at over 6 MILLION barrels PER DAY
The Saudis are now over 80% PERCENT of pre-Iran war exports 👏🏻
That’s DESPITE Saudi Arabia closing the East-West… pic.twitter.com/lSYy7ozh8L
— John F. Kennedy Jr Q (@Real_JFK_Jr_) September 28, 2026
According to Kpler, crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz averaged around 13.2 million barrels per day over the seven days ending last Wednesday. That compares with approximately 17 million barrels per day before the conflict caused major disruptions to maritime traffic.
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said last week that the company has sufficient operational flexibility and logistical capacity to continue fulfilling customer commitments despite geopolitical uncertainty. He said Aramco is examining additional export routes while also increasing storage capacity outside Saudi Arabia to help maintain steady supplies to international markets.
Speaking to Nikkei Asia, Nasser explained that the East-West pipeline is a multi-stage system rather than a single pipeline, giving Aramco considerable flexibility in moving crude oil and petroleum products. He said the company’s infrastructure and operational capabilities enable it to cope with and manage significant disruptions.
Nasser also said Aramco is assessing further opportunities to increase its overseas storage facilities. Such expansion would provide the company with additional flexibility to respond to global demand and support the continuity and reliability of oil supplies under a range of circumstances.
Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company whose export network was heavily disrupted by the broader U.S.-Iran conflict, stands as the most direct beneficiary of the East West pipeline’s return.
Gulf crude exports recover
Seven months after the Strait of Hormuz closed, Middle East Gulf crude exports excluding Iran have returned to pre-war levels, reaching at least 16.5 mbd in September. The recovery has reshaped regional #oil logistics. Around 40% of crude now leaves… pic.twitter.com/FbsqS6oYXT
— Kpler (@Kpler) September 30, 2026
Parallel Increase in Hormuz Flows
While repairs progressed on the East-West line, Saudi Arabia ramped up shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. CNBC reported on September 25 that Saudi crude exports via Hormuz reached 3.6 million barrels per day in September, up sharply from about 900,000 barrels per day in August, according to Kpler data.
Matt Smith, director of commodity research at Kpler, told CNBC: “The ramp-up from the Mideast Gulf is a consequence of the pipeline outage, but it likely also signals a greater confidence in using the Strait of Hormuz given rising traffic.”
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright provided additional context on September 27 in comments to Iran International. He said that on one recent day “over 20 million barrels of oil, more than pre-conflict levels, flowed out of the strait,” with the current average running at almost 13 million barrels a day.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
