Gulf oil exports rose sharply in June, driven by a record increase in shipments from the United Arab Emirates, according to ship-tracking data cited by Reuters.
The jump in exports showed that oil flows from the region remained more resilient than many traders had feared, even as tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz continued to raise concerns about supply disruption.
Data from Kpler, Vortexa and LSEG showed that UAE exports reached between 3.7 million and 3.8 million barrels per day in June. That was more than 1 million barrels per day higher than May levels and marked the strongest monthly performance seen so far.
Overall Gulf oil exports climbed by more than 3 million barrels per day from May to exceed 10 million barrels per day in June. The rise suggested that a large part of the region’s supply kept moving despite security risks in one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway through which a large share of the world’s crude oil passes. Any disruption there can quickly affect global energy prices and freight costs. In recent weeks, however, shipments continued at levels that were better than expected, helped in part by the U.S. military presence in the region.
Even with the June rebound, exports from the Gulf were still about 40% below pre-war levels, Reuters reported. That shows the market has not fully returned to normal, even if immediate disruption has been limited.
The UAE stood out because its exports recovered rapidly through alternative routes and stronger use of export infrastructure. The rise also reflects how producers in the region have adjusted logistics to keep oil moving during a period of elevated geopolitical stress.
For oil markets, the latest data is important because it reduces the risk of an abrupt supply shock in the short term. At the same time, traders remain alert to any new escalation that could affect shipping through the Gulf.
The June figures underline a broader message: while tensions in the Middle East remain high, Gulf exporters are still able to move significant volumes of crude into global markets.
