Kuwait halts crude exports in April as Strait of Hormuz blockade bites
Kuwait recorded zero crude oil exports in April for the first time since the end of the Gulf War, according to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com.
The data shows that while the country continued producing oil, it did not ship any crude overseas during the month as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted tanker traffic.
TankerTrackers.com said Kuwait diverted output towards storage and refining instead of exports, as restrictions on the key maritime corridor choked off access to global markets.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies, has faced severe disruption during the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, leaving major producers scrambling to reroute shipments or hold back exports.