Crude oil exports from key Middle East producers climbed to 12.8 million barrels per day in September, the highest level recorded since the conflict between Israel and Iran began in February, according to data released by Kpler on Monday. The rebound was driven by increased shipments from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Preliminary figures indicated that exports through the Strait of Hormuz were expected to reach approximately 7.4 million barrels per day for the month. This came after Saudi Arabia rerouted oil from the Red Sea port of Yanbu following attacks that damaged its East-West pipeline.

Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest exporter, was on track to ship about 5.4 million barrels per day in September, up from 2.446 million barrels per day in August. Shipments from the Ras Tanura port in the Gulf rose to roughly 3.6 million barrels per day, compared with 929,000 barrels per day in August, though still below the 6.411 million barrels per day recorded in February. Overall, regional exports remained about 6 million barrels per day short of the 18.8 million barrels per day shipped in February.

Kpler data showed that 19 very large crude carriers, each carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi oil, departed the Strait of Hormuz in the previous week. The figures excluded vessels that may have traversed the strait with automatic identification system transponders deactivated to avoid detection.

Prior to the February 28 escalation, the strait typically handled around 125 large commercial vessels daily, including tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships, representing roughly 20 percent of global daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.