Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports averaged 5.52 million barrels per day (mmbbl/d) from October 1-25, putting shipments on track to reach their second-highest monthly level since the outbreak of the Iran war, despite escalating Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping and commodities data provider Kpler, cited by Asharq Business on October 26.

Exports could rise to about 5.8 mmbbl/d for the full month as additional Saudi crude shipments are recorded after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, said Homayoun Falakshahi, Kpler’s head of crude oil analysis. Some cargoes were transferred at sea in the Gulf of Oman from vessels loaded at Saudi ports to other tankers, he told Asharq Business.

Saudi shipments have remained relatively stable since the start of October despite escalating Iranian attacks on vessels using missiles, drones, and mines in the Persian Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has also continued attacks targeting Saudi territory and infrastructure. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said it had foiled an attempted strike on the giant Shaybah oil field.

Crude exports from Ras Tanura on the Persian Gulf averaged 2.95 mmbbl/d in October through the 25th, down from 4.16 mmbbl/d in September, according to Kpler data.

At Yanbu on the Red Sea, shipments averaged 2.21 mmbbl/d over the same period, compared with 2.54 mmbbl/d in September. Kpler also recorded exports averaging 352,000 bbl/d from unspecified loading ports during October.

Saudi crude exports peaked at 7.33 mmbbl/d in February, the month before the war began, marking the highest monthly average so far this year, according to Kpler.