Why did Kuwait's oil stocks fall sharply in late May to early June 2024, according to Kpler?

Kuwait's oil inventories fell sharply because two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) exported crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off, marking Kuwait's first major oil exports in over two months after exports had been curbed since Iran effectively closed the strait following the start of the Iran war on February 28; crude stockpiles at the Mina Al Ahmadi terminal fell by more than 7 million barrels between 29 May and 4 June.

What role did AIS signal deactivation play in Kuwait's recent oil exports, as reported by Kpler?

The two VLCCs that loaded crude at Mina Al Ahmadi between late May and early June disabled their AIS transponders for more than a week during loading—and had previously deactivated them in the Gulf of Oman—enabling discreet export amid the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which had led Kuwait to declare force majeure on crude and refined product shipments in April.

Kuwait's Oil Stocks Fall as Two Tankers Exit Gulf, Kpler Says

Jun 9, 2026

Kuwait's crude oil inventories fell by over 7 million barrels as two VLCCs exported crude via the Strait of Hormuz with disabled AIS signals. This marks the first major shipment since February following regional blockades and force majeure declarations.

reuters

2026-05-10

Two More Crude Oil Tankers Exit Strait of Hormuz with Trackers Switched Off

2026-06-09

Kuwait's Oil Stocks Fall as Two Tankers Exit Gulf, Kpler Says

Kuwait's Oil Stocks Fall as Two Tankers Exit Gulf, Kpler Says

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