U.S. energy secretary says Strait of Hormuz oil flows hit 9 million barrels per day, but tanker data contradicts normalization claims.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated Sunday oil traffic from the Middle East exceeded pre-conflict averages, with a seven-day average of nearly 9 million barrels per day through the Strait of Hormuz. Wright credited coordinated efforts by the U.S. military and Gulf allies for the increase, also noting an additional 5-7 million barrels from other sources.
Ship-tracking data does not support the claim of normalized flows, raising questions about the discrepancy. Prior to recent tensions, daily averages hovered around 17-18 million barrels, with disruptions causing temporary declines. No immediate market reaction was reported following the statement.
The U.S. has not provided further evidence to reconcile the conflicting data, leaving analysts to assess the impact on global oil supply expectations.