What is Kuwait's new timeline for restoring oil production to prewar levels, and what conditions are attached?

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah stated that the country expects to exceed 2 million barrels per day within one week, and—pending availability of international commercial shipping to Kuwaiti ports—to resume prewar production (about 2.5 million barrels a day) "within a matter of weeks." This timeline is shorter than the earlier estimate of six to eight weeks to reach 70% of normal output, and hinges on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the return of tankers to Kuwaiti ports.

Why were Kuwait's oil exports severely disrupted during the war, and what immediate steps has KPC taken in response to the US-Iran peace deal?

Kuwait was entirely reliant on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports, and its infrastructure—including refineries, KPC headquarters, and airport—was repeatedly targeted, causing output to slump from 2.5 million barrels a day to as low as 500,000 barrels a day after storage filled up due to the Hormuz closure. In response to the interim US-Iran peace deal, Kuwait has carried out sufficient repairs to damaged energy infrastructure to rapidly increase output, lifted all force majeure notices "with immediate effect," and begun accelerating shipments through Hormuz, including welcoming the first Saudi Arabian tankers since the war began.

Kuwait Oil Chief Says Output to Swiftly Rise to Prewar Level

Jun 18, 2026

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. plans to exceed 2 million barrels per day within a week following repairs and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Force majeure notices are lifted immediately, causing benchmark Brent prices to drop below $76 per barrel.

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