Two oil tankers carrying 4 million barrels Iraqi crude cross Hormuz Strait

Two oil tankers carrying Iraqi crude oil have departed the Strait of Hormuz, in a development that boosts hopes for the stability of oil exports from Iraq, after the strait remained closed to commercial vessels for a long time.

According to maritime navigation data, at dawn today, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, two Chinese oil tankers carrying about 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil crossed the strait, making them among the few vessels that managed to cross it recently.

Iraq is considered one of the countries most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as it relies heavily for most of its oil exports on this vital waterway, especially Basra crude exports heading to Asian markets, specifically China.