Gulf crude exports jump in July but shipments slowing on renewed hostilities, data shows

Shipments through the strait are already declining as strikes by both sides have re-escalated, dropping to just three commodity tankers on Thursday, the fewest daily transits since May, shipping data showed.

"We’re seeing a slowdown in activity, which means that countries will have to reduce output, which decreases the amount of crude that will be shipped," Kpler analyst Johannes Rauball said.

Even after the rebound, exports remained about 32% below February's pre-war peak of 17.6 million bpd.

Creating a potentially significant extra risk to global oil supplies, Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthis to be prepared to disrupt traffic through the Red Sea if the United States targets Iranian energy infrastructure, sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia has diverted most of its energy exports through its Red Sea port of Yanbu. So far in July, 75% of its 5.29 million bpd crude and condensate were exported from Yanbu, Kpler data showed.

(Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Alex Lawler and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)