Oil and fuel exports from the region have dropped sharply. Shipments, which stood at around 25–26 million barrels per day in February, have plunged by nearly two-thirds to roughly 7.5–9.7 million barrels per day by mid-March, according to market tracking data. The steep decline highlights the scale of disruption affecting one of the world’s most critical oil-producing regions.
Even more concerning is the situation on the production side. Several Middle Eastern producers have significantly reduced output, partly due to limited storage capacity and logistical constraints. In some cases, barrels intended for export are being diverted into floating storage instead of reaching end users. Overall, more than 7 million barrels per day of supply have been removed from the market, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait all contributing to the cuts.
This shift has effectively erased earlier expectations of a global oil surplus. Instead of a projected surplus of around 3.7 million barrels per day, the market is now facing a substantial supply deficit. Estimates suggest that total shut-in production could reach as high as 10 million barrels per day, further tightening global availability.
With physical supply constrained, the market is becoming increasingly sensitive to demand pressures. In such conditions, prices tend to rise sharply and may remain elevated even if the situation stabilizes, as restarting production and normalizing supply chains takes time.
Some analysts have already begun acknowledging the possibility of extreme price scenarios. Market participants note that prices have already approached the $150 range in certain benchmarks, and in the event of continued disruptions, a move toward $200—or even higher—cannot be ruled out. Commodity markets historically react strongly to supply shortages, often leading to rapid and steep price increases.
However, not all forecasts are as bullish. Some analysts expect prices to ease after March, assuming a quick resolution to the conflict. Yet, such projections depend heavily on a rapid de-escalation, which currently appears uncertain. Even if hostilities end soon, restoring production and exports could take months, preventing a full return to pre-crisis price levels.
Temporary factors, such as the availability of Russian crude in transit, have provided limited relief to the market. However, these are unlikely to offset the broader supply shortfall for long. Meanwhile, actions such as reduced refining rates and export restrictions in key consuming countries further reflect the strain on global energy systems.
While a $200 oil scenario remains uncertain, it is no longer viewed as unrealistic. The longer supply disruptions persist, the greater the upward pressure on prices, keeping global energy markets on edge.
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