Iranian Drone Attacks Disrupt Vital Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments

Daily crude and petroleum flows exiting the Gulf of Oman have plummeted to 9.1 million barrels per day, according to UBS energy expert Henri Patricot. This represents a significant decline from the 17 million barrel peak recorded in early October. The weekly average has now retreated to 13.5 million barrels as shipping firms struggle with new Iranian tactics, which reportedly involve small-boat spotters coordinating drone strikes.

Beyond the immediate maritime volatility, infrastructure on land remains under pressure, with reports surfacing that Saudi Aramco headquarters faced a recent targeting attempt. While Gulf crude loadings excluding Iran have shown a temporary rebound to 12 million barrels per day, bypass routes through Yanbu and Fujairah continue to underperform significantly compared to September averages. Macro strategist Dimitrios Laloudakis notes that while front-month oil contracts remain tepid, longer-dated futures are climbing, signaling that markets are bracing for a prolonged period of supply uncertainty as the global diesel squeeze persists.