Saudi Arabia told OPEC its August crude output plunged by 1.9 mln bpd to 6.238
mln bpd, the lowest reported since 1990, after renewed US–Iran hostilities
squeezed export routes, OPEC's monthly report showed. The decline is even below
April’s wartime-era low, previously the lowest since the start of the Gulf War.
Riyadh’s reported drop aligns with preliminary tanker-tracking data showing
Saudi August crude exports fell roughly one-third to about 3.0 mln bpd. Brent
futures topped $100/bbl this week after renewed attacks on Gulf tankers, with
rising fuel costs adding to inflationary pressure.