Gulf of Oman ship-to-ship oil transfers reach limit as Saudi exports surge

Saudi Arabia's oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz jumped from about 900,000 barrels per day in August to 3.6 million in September, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. That surge has pushed ship-to-ship transfer operations in the Gulf of Oman to their limit, as tankers scramble to move crude to buyers in Asia and beyond. The rebound follows a period of lower flows, likely tied to maintenance or OPEC+ production adjustments. Ship-to-ship transfers are a workaround for vessels that can't dock at ports — often used when sanctions, insurance, or logistical constraints complicate direct deliveries. With Saudi exports climbing, the Gulf of Oman is becoming a bottleneck. Analysts are watching whether the pace can be sustained, and what it signals about global oil demand and the kingdom's production strategy heading into the final quarter of the year.