Key facts
- The U.S. military is helping move approximately 7 million barrels per day of oil from the Persian Gulf.
- This export volume is significantly higher than market expectations.
- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's LPG carrier Gas Umm Al Rowaisat navigated the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Gas Umm Al Rowaisat had its AIS transponder switched off during its passage.
- Gulf producers are increasingly adopting 'dark mode' shipping by switching off AIS transponders.
- This practice complicates the tracking of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Disruptions are affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the U.S. military is assisting in the movement of approximately 7 million barrels per day of oil out of the Persian Gulf. This volume significantly exceeds market expectations, particularly in light of disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, Gulf producers are increasingly adopting 'dark mode' shipping practices. This involves switching off Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders on vessels to obscure their movements. An example of this is Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's LPG carrier, Gas Umm Al Rowaisat, which navigated the Strait of Hormuz with its AIS transponder deactivated. This trend of 'dark mode' shipping complicates efforts to track energy flows through the critical chokepoint. The increased oil exports facilitated by the U.S. military, combined with the opacity of 'dark mode' shipping, present a complex picture of energy transit in the Persian Gulf region.