Oman Evacuates Major Oil Export Port as Tanker Attacks Deepen Middle East Energy Crisis

Oman has evacuated its key oil export terminal at Mina Al Fahal while two crude oil tankers were struck in Iraqi waters, highlighting the growing risks to global energy supplies as the Middle East conflict intensifies.

According to people familiar with the situation, ships were ordered to leave the Mina Al Fahal port as a precautionary measure after heightened security threats linked to the ongoing war involving Iran and Western forces. The evacuation reflects fears that the conflict is expanding beyond the Strait of Hormuz, threatening oil infrastructure across the region.

Attacks on Tankers Trigger Operational Shutdowns

Two crude tankers — the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zefyros — were reportedly hit in Iraqi territorial waters, according to Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO).

Following the attacks, Iraq temporarily suspended operations at its oil export terminals, according to officials from the General Company for Ports of Iraq cited by the Iraqi News Agency.

The incidents underscore rising retaliatory attacks believed to be linked to Iran, further escalating concerns that the conflict could disrupt energy exports across the wider Middle East.

Oman Port Evacuation Raises Supply Concerns

The evacuation of Mina Al Fahal, one of Oman’s main crude export terminals located outside the Strait of Hormuz, signals that even alternative shipping routes are now facing security risks.

According to energy data firm Kpler, approximately 1 million barrels per day of Omani crude oil are exported from the terminal.

Omani crude has surged in price due to the crisis, reaching about $121 per barrel, significantly above the global benchmark Brent crude, which is trading near $101 per barrel.

“If disruptions to Omani oil exports turn out to be more persistent, fears over broader regional supply will grow,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV in Singapore.

“The market will have to start worrying about more than just Strait of Hormuz oil flows,” he added.

Drone Attacks Hit Oman’s Ports

The evacuation order followed drone attacks on multiple port facilities in Oman.

According to Oman News Agency, drones struck fuel storage tanks at the Port of Salalah, while several other drones were intercepted by air defenses.

As a result, Salalah port suspended operations at its container and general cargo terminals, though other ports in Oman continue operating normally.

Oil Prices Surge Despite Global Reserve Release

Energy markets reacted sharply to the escalating crisis.

Brent crude oil prices surged by as much as 10% during trading as fears of supply disruptions intensified.

The rally occurred despite a historic move by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and major economies to coordinate a 400-million-barrel release from strategic oil reserves.

Some analysts say the scale of the reserve release may have unsettled markets rather than calming them, given the conflict has lasted less than two weeks.

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Hit Regional Oil Output

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil shipments pass, has already forced several Middle Eastern producers to adjust exports.

• Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have reduced output in response to shipping disruptions.

• The United Arab Emirates continues exporting from Fujairah, a terminal outside the strait, though some shipping companies are avoiding the port due to security risks.

• Saudi Arabia has redirected some crude exports through a pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea, bypassing the Hormuz chokepoint.

However, analysts warn that these alternative routes cannot fully compensate for lost shipments.

“Even with record coordinated releases from emergency stockpiles, the supplies reaching the market will only cover a fraction of the current disruptions,” Patterson said.

With attacks spreading beyond the Strait of Hormuz and hitting ports across the Gulf, markets remain increasingly concerned that global oil supply disruptions could worsen if the conflict escalates further.