Harvey tanks exports and production
The hurricane seized up much of the Gulf Coast's infrastructure that keeps oil and fuel flowing to markets
Hurricane Harvey cut the US' exports of crude and oil products by more than half and knocked around 0.75m barrels a day of production offline last week, according to initial data from the Energy Information Administration. Harvey slammed into the heart of America's oil complex on the Gulf Coast, knocking out the refineries, pipelines, pumping stations and ports that are vital to keeping oil and fuel flowing. Refinery runs on the Gulf Coast fell by a third, from 9.2m b/d two weeks ago to 6m b/d last week, amid the worst of the storm. Many of the Gulf Coast's major oil ports were shut down by the storm, and are only slowly coming back to life. Total product exports fell from 4.5m b/d to 2m b/d
Also in this section
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls






