Hormuz Strait traffic dwindles as Middle East tensions persist

A Reuters report shows traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dwindled to a trickle amid Gulf tensions, with roughly a dozen vessels passing over the weekend. Saudi crude exports are rebounding, with exports through Hormuz rising to over 4 million barrels per day in September and 13 tankers exiting the strait in the week of September 13; Saudi Arabia accounted for about half of the shipments and Iraq for a sizable share. Analysts say overall Gulf oil flows remain robust, averaging about 17.1 million barrels per day in the past 10 days despite disruptions and ongoing conflict.