Kuwait’s oil sector has managed to maintain exports and limit market disruption during months of instability in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Kuwait’s governor to OPEC and oil analyst Mohammed Al-Shatti.
Speaking to Kuwait Television, Al-Shatti said the country’s preparedness and access to strategic reserves helped sustain supplies despite growing regional tensions affecting one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key shipping corridor for Gulf crude exports, with around one-fifth of global petroleum consumption passing through the waterway each day, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Al-Shatti said oil markets had remained relatively stable despite renewed threats and shipping disruptions linked to tensions with Iran. He argued that available spare production capacity and emergency oil inventories helped prevent sharper price increases.
Brent crude has continued trading near the $90-per-barrel mark, while Kuwaiti crude recently fell below $100 per barrel for the first time since tensions escalated.
He said strategic reserves stored overseas, particularly in Japan and South Korea, allowed Kuwait to continue meeting supply commitments to Asian customers during the crisis. Kuwait also maintained oil sales to nearby Gulf markets, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Al-Shatti, the International Energy Agency’s decision to allow member states to draw from emergency reserves also contributed to easing pressure on global markets.
Still, he warned that oil inventories could not support markets indefinitely if disruptions continue for several more months. He added that markets currently appear optimistic that a political agreement or resolution may be approaching.
Al-Shatti also praised Kuwait’s oil sector workforce, saying the crisis demonstrated the country’s ability to respond effectively to major disruptions in global energy markets.
