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IEA Chief Says Strait of Hormuz Closure Depletes Oil Inventories

Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency, said commercial oil inventories are being drawn down rapidly because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He spoke at a Group of Seven finance leaders meeting in Paris on Monday.

Benzinga
1 source·May 18, 1:14 PM(11 days ago)·1m read
IEA Chief Says Strait of Hormuz Closure Depletes Oil Inventoriesrevolver.news
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Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency, said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is causing a rapid depletion of commercial oil inventories. Birol made the comments at the Group of Seven finance leaders meeting in Paris on Monday. 5 million barrels of oil per day.

" The upcoming spring planting and summer travel seasons in the northern hemisphere are expected to increase demand for diesel, fertilizer, jet fuel, and gasoline. Birol noted a "perception gap in the markets between the physical markets and the financial markets" for oil.

-Iran war in late February.

The Iran conflict has disrupted Middle East oil production, pushing global oil supply below demand this year and reversing the IEA's earlier surplus forecast. In response, the IEA coordinated a record release of 400 million barrels from strategic reserves in March, with about 164 million barrels released as of May 8.

Key Facts

2.5 million barrels per day
supplied from strategic oil reserves
400 million barrels
released from strategic reserves in March
164 million barrels
released as of May 8
Several weeks
estimated duration of commercial inventories

Story Timeline

4 events
  1. Late February

    U.S.-Iran war begins and alters oil market balance.

    1 sourceBenzinga
  2. March

    IEA coordinates record release of 400 million barrels from strategic reserves.

    1 sourceBenzinga
  3. May 8

    Approximately 164 million barrels released from strategic reserves.

    1 sourceBenzinga
  4. May 18

    Fatih Birol addresses G7 finance leaders in Paris about inventory drawdown.

    1 sourceBenzinga

Potential Impact

  1. 01

    Higher fuel prices could affect northern hemisphere planting and travel seasons.

  2. 02

    Further reserve releases may be needed if commercial inventories continue to fall.

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced1
Confidence score65%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count151 words
PublishedMay 18, 2026, 1:14 PM
Bias signals removed2 across 1 outlet
Signal Breakdown
Loaded 1Editorializing 1

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