Hormuz Oil Flows Face Data Gaps as Claims Clash with Reality

The White House touts a surge in Strait of Hormuz oil shipments, with Trump claiming around 18 million bpd and the Energy Secretary nudging at 17 million, but private trackers and the DOE show a multi‑day average in the 8–12 million bpd range, with recent readings varying and tanker activity distorted by ships going dark. Data in wartime are uncertain, and analysts expect more clarity in weeks, but the signals suggest a rise—likely not as large as presidential claims—and a political benefit for Trump as fall campaigns approach.