Kuwait Exports Zero Barrels of Oil for the First Time Since 1991 Gulf War, Monitor Says

Kuwait exported zero barrels of crude oil in April 2026, the first such halt since the 1991 Gulf War, according to data from shipping monitor Tanker Trackers. The tanker-tracking service reported that while the country continued to produce oil, no crude was shipped overseas during the month. The halt is attributed to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has blocked Kuwait’s only export route, according to officials. ^[1]

Context of the Export Halt

On April 17, 2026, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation declared force majeure on shipments of crude oil and refined products, suspending exports after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was effectively halted, according to reports. ^[1] The US Navy maintains a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed to what it terms “hostile ships,” officials said. ^[1] Tanker Trackers data showed that Kuwait diverted output toward storage and refining rather than exports, as disruptions prevented vessels from entering the eastern Persian Gulf. ^[2]

The blockade originated from the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began in late February 2026. The conflict has crippled regional energy infrastructure and shut down the 21-mile-wide waterway that carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, analysts noted. ^[3]

Economic Impact on Kuwait

Oil accounts for roughly 50% of Kuwait’s total GDP, and petroleum exports generate about 90% of the government’s budget, according to government data cited by the monitor. ^[1] With exports halted, Kuwait’s oil output has fallen to around 1.2 million barrels per day, down from a previous production level of approximately 2.7 million barrels per day, CNBC reported. ^[1]

The economic shock is severe for a country that previously exported about 1.85 million barrels per day, with most shipments going to Asian markets including China, India, and South Korea. The loss of export revenue threatens to collapse state finances and disrupt domestic spending, according to analysts. The situation highlights the vulnerability of Gulf economies that remain heavily dependent on a single resource and a single export route, a condition that historian Lewis Dartnell notes has long defined the region’s strategic importance. ^[4]

Historical Comparison

The last time Kuwait exported zero barrels of oil was during the 1990–1991 Gulf War, after Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein invaded the country, the monitor said. ^[1] During that conflict, a U.S.-led coalition launched a military campaign that expelled Iraqi forces in early 1991. The current halt, however, stems from a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz rather than occupation of Kuwaiti territory, officials said.

Unlike the 1991 crisis, which was resolved by a coalition ground war, the present blockade has no clear end date. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. continue without a resolution, according to reports. ^[1] The absence of a military solution to reopen the waterway has led to a prolonged energy standoff that the International Energy Agency now says has surpassed the severity of the 1970s oil shocks. ^[5]

Global Oil Market Implications

Oil prices have surged above $120 per barrel in recent days, reaching levels not seen since 2022, according to market data. ^[1] The Strait of Hormuz blockade has removed millions of barrels of daily supply from global markets, threatening to ignite a worldwide recession, analysts warned. The situation has triggered widespread fuel shortages and price spikes across Asia and Europe. ^[3]

Gulf oil producers have lost an estimated $15.1 billion in energy revenues since the strikes began, according to a Financial Times report cited by researchers. ^[6] A simulation conducted by Austrian researchers found that an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect $1.2 trillion in annual exports from five Gulf nations, according to the study. ^[7] The UAE announced its departure from OPEC on May 1, 2026, further fracturing the cartel’s ability to influence prices. ^[8]

Outlook

Kuwait continues to produce crude oil but cannot export due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, Tanker Trackers data shows. ^[1] No timeline for resumption of exports has been announced, officials said. The situation remains dependent on geopolitical developments in the region, particularly negotiations between Iran and the U,S., which have shown no clear path to reopening the waterway. ^[1]

Analysts note that even if a ceasefire is reached, the physical damage to oil fields and infrastructure may prevent a rapid return to full production. The permanent damage to Persian Gulf oil wells may already be underway, according to assessments. ^[5] For Kuwait and other Gulf states, the crisis underscores the fragility of economies built on a single export commodity subject to the whims of geopolitics. ^[9]

References

1. Kuwait exports zero barrels of oil for first time in 35 years – monitor. – RT. May 3, 2026.
2. Kuwait halts crude exports in April as Strait of Hormuz blockade bites. – Middle East Eye. May 2, 2026.
3. Strait of Hormuz Siege Threatens Global Energy Collapse as Trump Dismisses $100 Oil as ‘Small Price’ for Iran War. – NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. March 9, 2026.
4. Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History. Lewis Dartnell.
5. Persian Gulf States Cut Oil Production by 10 Million Barrels per Day. – NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. March 13, 2026.
6. Gulf Energy Revenues Drop by Billions Following U.S.-Israeli Strikes on Iran, Report States. – NaturalNews.com. Garrison Vance. March 19, 2026.
7. Simulation: Extended Strait of Hormuz Closure Could Affect $1.2 Trillion in Global Trade. – NaturalNews.com. March 24, 2026.
8. In five charts – How UAE’s exit could affect Opec’s influence over the oil price. – BBC. April 29, 2026.
9. Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of Energy Independence. Robert Bryce.