Middle East Oil Exports Surge Amid Iranian Maritime Attacks
Middle East crude exports have exceeded pre-war levels despite reports that Iran is charging secret transit tolls and launching missiles into maritime kill boxes.
Crude oil exports from West Asia surged in late September to between 18.3 and 22.5 million barrels per day, surpassing levels seen before the US-Israel war on Iran began in February. This increase was driven by Saudi Arabia ramping up shipments to regain market share after a September 10 pipeline attack and Iraq increasing shipments after securing Iranian permission in August for tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the recovery, maritime security has deteriorated. The Government of Iran is accused of implementing a toll booth system through the Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority, with some Gulf countries allegedly paying 10 to 20 percent of cargo value for safe passage. The United States has responded by providing naval escorts and sanctioning BitBank, a firm used to transfer these fees to Tehran. The Trump administration stated that Iran will not be permitted to charge tolls under any future agreement.
Violence in the region has escalated, with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reporting at least one attack daily in the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Aden since October 2. Recent incidents include an October 1 projectile strike on the Kazimah III, a vessel owned by the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company. Shipping intelligence firm Marisks reports that Iranian forces may be utilizing kill boxes, launching missiles into predetermined areas that lock onto any available radar signature rather than targeting specific ships.
