Saudi Oil Exports Fall to Record Low Amid Iran War and Hormuz Closure

Data revealed that Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports declined for the second consecutive month in April 2026, reaching an unprecedented low amid the ongoing Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Joint Data Initiative "JODI" reported on Monday that exports fell to 3.99 million barrels per day in April 2026, down from 4.974 million barrels per day in March 2026.

JODI's data on Saudi Arabia's exports and total production dates back to 2002, marking the earliest available records.

Saudi Arabia's crude oil production also dropped to 6.316 million barrels per day in April 2026, the lowest level on record, decreasing from 6.967 million barrels per day in March 2026.

Iranian attacks on Gulf countries caused damage to key energy facilities and disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a passage that typically handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. These attacks were in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that began in late February 2026.

The International Energy Agency estimated that the conflict halted more than 14 million barrels per day of oil production in the Middle East. Amid these developments, the United States became the world's largest oil exporter.