The halt is due to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s only export route, with crude accounting for roughly 50% of GDP
Kuwait exported zero barrels of crude oil last month, according to data from a shipping monitor, marking the first such halt since the 1991 Gulf War.
A major US ally hosting around 13,500 American troops and serving as a key regional logistics hub, Kuwait previously produced about 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) and exported roughly 1.85 million bpd, with most shipments going to Asian markets including China, India, and South Korea.
On April 17, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation declared force majeure, suspending exports after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was effectively halted amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. Oil accounts for roughly 50% of Kuwait’s total GDP. Petroleum exports generate about 90% of the government’s budget.
As of early May 2026, Kuwait’s oil output has fallen to around 1.2 million barrels per day, CNBC reported.
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