Gulf Oil Exports Rise in June as UAE Shipments Hit Record Levels

Gulf oil exports jumped in June, mostly because the United Arab Emirates shipped record volumes, based on ship-tracking data compiled by Reuters.

Combined exports of crude and condensate from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran climbed by more than 3.5 million barrels a day from May, reaching 10.07 million barrels a day in June, according to Kpler. Vortexa’s numbers were similar—about 10.2 million barrels a day in June, up from just 7 million in May. Even with that surge, monthly volumes still lagged behind the numbers from a year ago.

The standout was the UAE. Ship-tracking companies including Kpler, Vortexa, and LSEG all pegged UAE exports at around 3.7 to 3.8 million barrels per day in June, more than a million barrels a day higher than in May.

Saudi Arabia ramped up its crude exports as well, adding 768,000 barrels per day to hit 4.52 million, according to Kpler. Vortexa saw both Iraq and Kuwait pushing up their exports too, with each recovering to roughly 800,000 barrels a day.

Things started moving again after shipping improved through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for moving oil from the Gulf. BRS, a shipbroker, counted 98 tankers passing through the strait between June 22 and June 28, the highest since regional disruptions flared up, according to Reuters.

Analysts pointed to a mix of factors behind June’s rebound: smoother shipping, delayed cargos finally moving, and producers tweaking their loading schedules after earlier setbacks. Numbers like these can swing month to month because of various timing issues, ship availability, port activities, and inventory maneuvers.

The UAE’s infrastructure gave it an edge. They’ve got pipelines and facilities that let them send oil through Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, sidestepping the Strait of Hormuz when needed. Reuters noted that ADNOC, the UAE’s oil company, used special shipping arrangements to keep exports rolling during the period.

All that extra oil from the Gulf hit the global market just as traders were keeping a close eye on regional tensions, refinery demand, and inventory levels. Still, one big month doesn’t mean there’s a new long-term trend.

Everyone’s watching July and the rest of the third quarter to see if June’s jump was just a one-off recovery or a sign of something more lasting. It’ll come down to what producers decide on output, what refineries need, shipping logistics, and storage capacity.

Official export numbers always come in after the fact—so, for now, commercial tracking data from Kpler, Vortexa, and LSEG offers the earliest look at what’s really happening with Gulf oil shipments.