A large number of empty oil tankers are heading to the United States, and U.S. crude oil exports are expected to hit a record high in April.

ME News update, April 9 (UTC+8). Due to Asian customers rushing to find alternative Middle East oil supplies disrupted by the Iran war, US crude oil export volumes are expected to reach 5.2 million barrels per day in April, up nearly one-third from 3.9 million barrels per day in March. Demand from Asian customers increased 82% to 2.5 million barrels per day. Data from oil research firm Kpler shows that currently 68 empty tankers are en route to the United States, compared with 24 ships in the week before the war broke out on February 28, and last year’s average level of 27 ships. The US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, but after Israel attacked Lebanon, Iran said on Wednesday that it is closing the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier blockades over the past few weeks had pushed US oil prices up by more than 50%. Earlier this week, WTI crude touched a four-year high above $110 per barrel, and it still remains more than 40% higher than the pre-war level. The Trump administration has announced the release of more than 170 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to rein in fuel prices, but US gasoline prices have, for the first time in four years, broken above $4 per gallon. (Source: ODAILY)