Post by : Bianca
Haleem
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says between 8 million and 9 million barrels of oil are still moving through the Strait of Hormuz each day, challenging estimates that shipping through the key waterway has dropped sharply during the conflict with Iran.
Speaking to Fox News, Wright said commercial vessel-tracking data does not provide a complete picture of traffic because many ships have switched off their tracking transponders and are travelling under military escort.
Wright said US authorities have direct communication with vessels operating in the area and receive daily information on traffic using both northern and southern routes. “We know every day exactly how many ships transit the Strait of Hormuz in and out,” Wright said in an interview with Bret Baier. “We know exactly what they’re carrying.”
Why Vessel Tracking Figures Are Lower
Commercial tracking company Kpler had estimated that more than 100 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz each day before the conflict. According to Baier, Kpler recorded only 14 crossings on Monday and 14 on Tuesday.
Wright disputed those figures, saying they do not capture vessels whose AIS transponders have been turned off.
“Almost all of these ships have their AIS, their transponders are off. So they’re dark, they’re under escort,” Wright said.
According to Wright, the actual oil flow through the strait remains at around 8 million to 9 million barrels per day on a running average.
He added that another 6 million barrels per day are being moved through pipelines instead of the waterway.
How Much Oil Is Leaving the Arabian Gulf?
Wright said total oil shipments leaving the Arabian Gulf region currently stand at around 14 million to 15 million barrels per day, compared with approximately 20 million barrels per day before the conflict.
That represents a reduction of roughly 5 million to 6 million barrels per day.
However, Wright said the decline in oil movement is smaller than some widely reported estimates because vessel-tracking systems are not capturing all shipping activity.
What Did Wright Say About US Control of Hormuz?
During the interview, Baier also asked Wright about President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States has total control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Wright did not repeat that claim.
Instead, he said Iran was continuing to create difficulties for neighbouring countries and the global economy, while arguing that Tehran's ability to disrupt shipping was weakening as US escort operations increased.
“They have sort of one card and it’s shrinking in size,” Wright said.
US Petrol Prices Remain Around $4 a Gallon
Wright also addressed fuel prices in the United States, saying petrol prices remained elevated at about $4 a gallon.
He said the administration wants prices to move back towards $3 a gallon, although he did not provide a timeline.
“We absolutely will get there. The question is just the timing of that,” Wright said.
Refining Capacity Adds to Supply Pressure
According to Wright, the immediate pressure on energy markets is now more significant in refining than in crude oil supplies.
He also pointed to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries as another factor affecting global supplies of refined petroleum products and contributing to higher prices.
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