IEA Orders Largest Ever Oil Reserve Release Amid Strait of Hormuz Attacks

Dozens of countries have agreed to the largest release of emergency oil stocks in history, responding to escalating tensions and attacks on commercial vessels in the critical Strait of Hormuz. The move, coordinated by the International Energy Agency (IEA), aims to stabilize global oil prices amid fears of supply disruptions.

Strait of Hormuz: A Vital Oil Chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran, is one of the world’s most strategically important oil transit routes. Approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products were shipped through the Strait daily in 2025, representing around 25% of global seaborne oil trade IEA. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Several countries rely heavily on the Strait for their oil exports, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and Iran IEA. Disruptions to the flow of oil through this chokepoint could have significant consequences for global energy markets.

The Strait is only 29 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point, with 2-mile-wide navigable channels for inbound and outbound shipping, plus a 2-mile buffer zone IEA.

Recent Attacks and IEA Response

On March 11, 2026, three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz The Guardian. The attacks prompted the IEA to authorize the release of 400 million barrels of oil from its 32 member countries ABC News. This is the largest such release in the IEA’s history, surpassing the 182.7 million barrels released in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ABC News.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol stated that the oil market challenges are “unprecedented in scale” ABC News.

Global Oil Market Implications

The attacks and the IEA’s response come amid broader regional conflict and rising oil prices. The price of Brent crude oil increased from $69 to $74 per barrel on June 12-13, 2025, following earlier tensions in the region EIA. The release of emergency oil reserves is intended to prevent further price increases and ensure stable oil supplies to global markets.

While pipeline capacity exists to redirect some crude flows and avoid the Strait of Hormuz (3.5 to 5.5 mb/d), it is limited IEA. Most oil volumes transiting the strait have no alternative exit routes.

The Strait of Hormuz also has implications for global gas trade, as it is a key transit route for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports from Qatar and the UAE, representing almost 20% of global LNG exports IEA.

Key Takeaways

• The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.
• Recent attacks on commercial vessels have heightened concerns about supply disruptions.
• The IEA has authorized the largest release of emergency oil reserves in its history to stabilize prices.
• Approximately 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade transits the Strait of Hormuz.