Iran is continuing to export large volumes of crude oil despite the escalating maritime crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, with most shipments still heading to China, according to tanker-tracking data.
Figures from Kpler show that Iran loaded about 1.5 million barrels of crude per day in March, while China imported roughly 1.25 million barrels daily, suggesting that Tehran’s key oil lifeline has remained largely intact despite the conflict.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have intensified since the war began on February 28, turning the vital maritime route — the Strait of Hormuz, which controls over 20 per cent of global oil and LNG transit — into one of the world’s most volatile shipping corridors.
So far, an estimated 16 commercial vessels have been attacked or struck in and around the strait since the fighting began, prompting insurers and shipping firms to reassess voyages through the region.
In response, the International Energy Agency and major consuming nations agreed to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves — the largest emergency intervention in the agency’s history, after the conflict threatened to cut global supply by about 8 million barrels per day.
Oil prices briefly climbed above $100 a barrel earlier in the week as traders weighed the risk of prolonged disruption, while gas prices in Europe have also surged amid concerns that LNG shipments from the Gulf could be affected.
The war has created a complex energy paradox. Iran cannot fully halt global oil flows without damaging its own economy, yet it has demonstrated that it can make the Persian Gulf volatile enough to disrupt markets while continuing to export crude, largely to China.
