US Officials Report 60 Million Barrels Crossed Hormuz in 72 Hours

United States officials reported that roughly 60 million barrels of crude oil transited the Strait of Hormuz during the preceding 72 hours. These figures stand in contrast to levels published by vessel-tracking service Kpler, according to Axios.

Kpler Data Contradicts US Claims

Data released by Kpler on Friday indicated that crude oil outflows from the strait totaled 33.7 million barrels over a six-day period beginning the previous Sunday. This volume suggests export rates remained close to those observed during the prior week.

The company’s records also showed a decline in daily transit numbers. On Thursday, only nine vessels crossed the waterway, down from 14 the day before. Both figures fall below the ten-day average of approximately 18 ships.

Central Command Reports High Volumes

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), announced that more than one billion barrels of crude oil had exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months. This statement coincides with tracking data showing a significant reduction in traffic through the maritime passage, raising questions about actual flow volumes.

According to available information, eight vessels departed and one entered the strait during the relevant period. The dataset does not account for ships that disable their tracking signals while sailing.

Royters Details Daily Traffic

Reuters quoted an American official stating that around 60 commercial vessels navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. This movement represented the largest daily volume of crude oil since early July.

The official added that approximately 40 of these ships coordinated with the U.S. military to secure protection. A total of about 22 million barrels moved through this vital maritime corridor.

Pre-War Baseline Levels

Before the outbreak of war involving Iran on February 28, the strait typically saw the passage of about 125 large commercial vessels each day. These included oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk cargo ships, and container vessels.

This routine traffic accounted for roughly 20 percent of global daily supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.