Tankers exit Strait of Hormuz with 6 million barrels of crude oil

Three supertankers were crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday carrying oil bound for Asian markets, after ​waiting in the Gulf for more than two months with 6 million barrels of Middle East crude on board, while another was entering, ‌shipping data on LSEG and Kpler showed, Reuters reported.

The ships are among a handful of supertankers exiting the Gulf this month via a transit route that Iran has ordered ships to use.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran which began on February 28 has severely curtailed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of the world's supply of oil and energy normally flows.

South Korean-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Universal Winner, ​carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude loaded on March 4, was exiting the strait following the departure of two Chinese tankers on Wednesday, the data ​showed. Kpler data showed the tanker is heading to Ulsan, where the country's largest refiner SK Energy is located, to discharge ⁠its cargo on June 9.

SK Energy declined to comment. A spokesperson for HMM, the owner and manager of the VLCC, could not be immediately reached for comment.