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FinanceUAE crude output hits record 4.1 mln bpd in June after leaving OPEC, nearly double March level
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The United Arab Emirates produced a record 4.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in June, nearly double its output from March 2026 at the start of the Hormuz crisis, according to the International Energy Agency. This surge followed the UAE's exit from OPEC effective May 1, allowing it to raise output aggressively. Despite a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for most of the first half of June, the UAE managed to export significant volumes by using tankers in 'dark mode' and shifting loading operations to offshore Fujairah and Oman's Sohar port, both outside the Strait. State oil company ADNOC is accelerating the West-East 1 Pipeline project, expected to be operational in 2027, which will double export capacity through Fujairah. ADNOC also plans to award up to $55 billion in upstream and downstream projects over the next two years, signaling a major expansion drive.
Source report
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) produced 4.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in June, its highest output ever, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency.
Production Surge Following OPEC Exit
The UAE's crude oil production jumped from 3.3 million bpd in May to 4.1 million bpd in June after the country left OPEC effective May 1. The increase came as the UAE began raising output and managed to export significant volumes from the Middle East, even while the Strait of Hormuz was largely blockaded for the first half of June.
Historical Context
The June production level of 4.1 million bpd is the highest on record for the UAE, nearly double the output in March 2026 at the start of the Hormuz crisis. It also surpassed the previous record of 4 million bpd from spring 2020, when OPEC+ producers were engaged in a brief price war for market share during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adaptation to Strait of Hormuz Closure
The UAE has adapted to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by:
- Operating tankers in "dark mode" through the Strait
- Increasingly offering crude grades for loading offshore Fujairah and at Sohar in Oman, both located outside the Strait
ADNOC's Expansion Plans
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has accelerated plans for a new pipeline expected to become operational in 2027. The West-East 1 Pipeline would double the UAE's oil export capacity through Fujairah, which sits outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, ADNOC plans to award up to $55 billion (200 billion UAE dirhams) on upstream and downstream projects over the next two years. The announcement of accelerated growth came days after the UAE stated it would leave OPEC effective May 1 to pursue its national interests.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
Source
OilPrice.com Daily News UpdateWestern
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UAE Hits Record 4.1M bpd Oil Output After Leaving OPEC