Oil tanker tracking data indicates a positive signal: multiple ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and Iraq's crude oil exports are increasing.

Iraq is speeding up the loading of crude oil at its main ports and increasing the amount of oil exported from the Persian Gulf. This latest development indicates that major OPEC oil-producing countries in the Gulf region are trying to transport more crude oil through the strategic chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows that the total amount of Iraqi oil shipped out of or loaded at the southern port of Basra from the Strait of Hormuz so far this month is about 7 million barrels. This figure is in line with the total amount of crude oil loaded and transported in April and May. In addition, many oil tankers loaded with Iraqi crude oil that were previously stuck have started leaving the port at the end of last month. Since the end of February, when the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blocked, leading to a sharp decrease in oil exports in the region, with only Saudi Arabia and the UAE being able to utilize alternative pipelines for large-scale oil exports. Now, there are increasing signs that oil exports are ramping up again, with many oil tankers that were loaded months ago starting their trips again, some even turning off their location signals to navigate discreetly. Iraq and other Gulf oil-producing countries are selling crude oil through ship-to-ship transfers at internal ports in the Gulf, as well as through the ports of Sohar in Oman or the eastern ports of the UAE, indicating an increase in oil export volumes. Iraq is also offering discounts to attract buyers in the Gulf region. With more oil-laden ships sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq's oil shipments are expected to exceed the levels of the past two months. The oil tanker "Kiara M" has completed its second shipment since May, departing from the Basra oil terminal in southern Iraq to the Persian Gulf, carrying around 2 million barrels of crude oil each time. Tracking data shows that the ship has sailed to the waters near the port of Sohar in Oman on both occasions, a common location where oil tankers transfer oil to other vessels. Another oil tanker, "Kin A," completed loading 2 million barrels of crude oil at the Basra terminal on Wednesday. This tanker, formerly named "Helga," loaded crude oil in Basra at the end of April and transported it to the port of Ain Sukhna on the coast of the Red Sea in Egypt. Oil can be transported from there through pipelines to the Mediterranean for storage or export. Currently, the ship is heading to Khor Fakkan port in the UAE, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, which is also a popular location for ship-to-ship transfers. Routes of the voyages for the "Kiara M" and "Kin A" tankers are shown in the article. Earlier this month, two other oil tankers, "Advantage Victory" and "Minerva Evropi," sent clear satellite signals in waters outside the Persian Gulf. "Advantage Victory" loaded 1 million barrels of Basra medium crude oil on February 27, the day before the war broke out, and loaded another 1 million barrels of Basra heavy crude oil on March 2, heading to Cape of Good Hope at the southern end of Africa, with the destination being the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. "Minerva Evropi" loaded 1 million barrels of crude oil in March and is currently in the Red Sea, heading towards the port of Fos in France. These two oil tankers had been stuck in the Persian Gulf for about three months. After the outbreak of the war, 22 oil tankers with about 29 million barrels of Iraqi oil were stranded in the Gulf. Two of them left the Gulf in April, and four more departed in late May. However, four tankers have not updated their satellite signals, making it unsure whether they are still in the Gulf. According to oil tanker tracking data, two oil tankers loaded with Iraqi oil sailed through the Strait of Hormuz in April and May, with each carrying approximately 4 million and 3 million barrels of oil, respectively. These four oil tankers sailed out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. The number of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz as of now only includes vessels that can be located through satellite signals. There are other ships exiting the Gulf without transmitting location information, a method of discreet navigation previously used by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to transport oil, refined oil, and natural gas to the market. Since the outbreak of the war in Iran, oil prices have experienced significant fluctuations, impacting the global market. At the time of writing, WTI crude oil futures price rose by 1.41% to $89.44 per barrel, while Brent crude oil futures price rose by 1.17% to $92.52 per barrel.