Kuwait exported no crude oil in April 2026, marking the first such occurrence in more than 30 years, according to a report by TankerTrackers.com cited by Al Jazeera. The last time Kuwait experienced zero crude exports was in 1991 during the aftermath of the Gulf War.

Despite the halt in crude exports, Kuwait continues oil production. Part of the produced oil is being stored, while the rest is refined into various petroleum products for export. The report attributes the suspension of crude exports to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes.

Analysts warn that if the blockade persists, it could have significant repercussions for the global energy market, given Kuwait’s role as a major oil producer in the Gulf region.