UAE crude exports return to pre-war levels as Iranian shipments vanish

The UAE’s crude oil exports have staged a remarkable comeback. Tanker tracking data from TankerTrackers.com shows that by early September 2026, UAE shipments had recovered to within 0.02% of their pre-war volumes. Meanwhile, Iranian crude exports have all but disappeared, dropping as much as 100% from pre-conflict levels. A tale of two exporters When conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel erupted in late February 2026, it sent shockwaves through global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically flows, became a chokepoint in the most literal sense. UAE crude exports cratered to approximately 1.9 to 2.13 million barrels per day in March 2026. From June through September 2026, UAE exports ranged between 3.7 and 4.3 million bpd, nearly matching pre-war output. The UAE’s Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, spanning 380 kilometers, connects Abu Dhabi’s inland oil fields directly to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz entirely. The Mandous underground storage facility holds roughly 42 million barrels, adding another layer of resilience. A US naval blockade first imposed in April...