Only Saudi Arabia and UAE have been able to increase their exports
Middle East expands Asian market share
Asia’s crude supply has shifted in recent months as Mideast Gulf producers have increased exports. And that trend may continue into the new year
Many Opec+ members have failed to increase—or in some cases even maintain—their oil export volumes at target levels despite the cartel’s latest production deal. Only Saudi Arabia and UAE—with ample and low-cost capacity—were able to lift their exports over the third quarter, adding 1.9mn bl/d, according to energy market analytics firm Vortexa. But other producers have been unable to respond. Combined exports from the rest of Opec+ are down by around 1.4mn bl/d since the start of the year. This failure to boost output has contributed to Asia's growing dependence on the Mideast Gulf. Middle Eastern crude accounted for 77.2pc of Asia’s imports in Q3, or 11.91mn bl/d, compared with 71.7pc, or 1
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
