Wednesday, May 13, 2026

World News

Hormuz shock draining global oil supply at record pace, warns IEA

Global oil markets are facing mounting pressure as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to impact supplies, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning that the world is depleting oil inventories at a record pace.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

MUSCAT : The IEA, in its latest oil market report, projected that global oil supply could decline by 3.9 million barrels per day throughout 2026 due to disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

While the agency also forecast a drop in global oil demand by 420,000 barrels per day this year, the expected fall in supply is significantly larger, raising concerns over tightening markets and future price volatility.

“More than 10 weeks after the war in the Middle East began, mounting supply losses from the Strait of Hormuz are depleting global oil inventories at a record pace,” the IEA stated in its report.

The agency further warned that importing countries are facing “unprecedented disruptions” to Middle Eastern oil supplies, leading to rapidly shrinking inventory buffers worldwide.

“The world is drawing oil inventories at a record pace as importing countries confront unprecedented disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies. Rapidly shrinking buffers amid continued disruptions may herald future price spikes ahead,” the report added.

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