U.S. crude oil exports surge to record as tankers flock to Gulf Coast during Iran war

The Perseus Star crude oil tanker departs the Port of Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas, US, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Eddie Seal | Bloomberg | The Port of Corpus Christi has never been busier as tankers from around the world flock to the U.S. Gulf Coast to load up on crude oil during the Iran war. The Texas port was the third-largest oil export terminal in the world before the war behind Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia and Basra in Iraq. Its importance has only grown since, as U.S. crude oil exports have surged to a record and the two big Persian Gulf ports are largely cut off from the world due to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. oil exports have jumped to 5.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, a more than 30% increase over the 3.9 million bpd exported in February before the war, according to data from Kpler. March was the busiest month in the history of the Port of Corpus Christi, and the first quarter was its busiest quarter ever, said CEO Kent Britton. Oil exports have increased to about 2.5 million barrels per day since the war started compared to 2.2 million bpd last year, Britton said. Ship traffic in Corpus Christi rose to more than 240 vessels in March compared to the 200 the port normally sees in a month, the CEO said. "It's a constant parade of tankers coming in and out," he said. Asian buyers Corpus Christi accounted for about half of U.S. crude oil exports in April while Houston made up most of the rest, according to data from Kpler. …