Archive · 17 Aug 2026
Covert Mideast oil flows keep global prices in check
During a war in Iran, countries that sell oil are secretly moving oil through a narrow sea passage called the Strait of Hormuz.
They turn off their ship tracking devices so the oil can't be easily found.
This secret oil moving helps keep the price of fuel from going too high.
Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil passed through every day.
Last week, officials said about 9 million barrels a day still crossed.
Some people worried oil would cost $150 a barrel, but it has stayed around $80 to $90.
The ships face danger, and some have been attacked.
One oil company, Adnoc, said 23 of its ships were attacked and one sailor died.
Many ships wait off the coast of Oman to pick up the oil.
This helps people around the world get the fuel they need.
Middle Eastern producers are covertly shuttling crude through the Strait of Hormuz to tankers in the Gulf of Oman, keeping global oil prices in check during the Iran war.
Dark ship volumes are running higher than market estimates of 4 million barrels a day, though exact figures are hard to track.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said 9 million barrels a day crossed Hormuz last week, nearly half the pre-war rate of about 20 million barrels a day.
Brent crude futures have traded between $80 and $90 a barrel in August, far below the $150 some feared at the conflict's onset.
Adnoc reported 23 of its vessels attacked while transiting Hormuz since the conflict began, with one fatality and 20 crew injuries.
- Who
- Middle Eastern oil producers including the UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc), Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, along with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
- What
- Covert shuttling of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz to tankers in the Gulf of Oman to keep global prices in check during the Iran war.
- When
- Ongoing for months; recent figures reported last week, with Brent futures trading in August.
- Where
- Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and off the coast of Oman, including Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura export hub.
- Why
- To keep global energy prices low and meet customer commitments despite attacks during the Iran war.
Producers and officials
Traders and analysts
Covert oil shuttle trade
Producers and officials
Producers like Adnoc say they are determined to safely deliver energy to global markets and meet customer commitments despite repeated attacks.
Traders and analysts
The trade is far from normal and risky, with seafarer deaths, growing oil spills, and more vessel incidents than publicly recognized.
Hormuz flow estimates
Producers and officials
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said 9 million barrels a day crossed Hormuz last week, on the high end of estimated flows.
Traders and analysts
Traders were surprised by the figure, and tracking dark ships is difficult; market estimates put shuttle volumes above 4 million barrels a day without specifying how much.
- Pre-war Hormuz flow
- About 20 million barrels per day (roughly a fifth of world oil supply)
- Recent Hormuz flow
- 9 million barrels per day last week, per US Energy Secretary Chris Wright
- Dark shuttle volume estimate
- Higher than market estimates of 4 million barrels per day
- Brent crude range (August)
- $80-$90 per barrel
- Adnoc vessels attacked
- 23 since the conflict began
- Adnoc casualties
- 1 fatality and 20 crew injuries
- Ships waiting off Oman
- About 150, versus roughly 40 in January
- Adnoc crude sold
- About 135 million barrels, with another sales round last week