Goldman Sachs estimates that oil exports from the Gulf have recovered to more than 60% of their level before the Iran war, though the bank cautioned that limited regional information makes flows hard to track.
Key facts
- Goldman Sachs estimates Gulf oil exports have risen to more than 60% of pre-Iran war levels.
- The bank said it has become difficult to figure out how much oil is flowing from the Gulf.
- Goldman attributed the uncertainty to limited information from the region because of the war.
- The estimate was reported by CNBC on August 28, 2026.
Oil exports from the Gulf have climbed back to more than 60% of the level recorded before the Iran war, according to estimates from Goldman Sachs reported by CNBC.
The figure points to a partial recovery in shipments from a region that is central to global energy supply. However, Goldman stressed that the estimate comes with significant uncertainty.
The bank said it has become difficult to figure out how much oil is actually flowing from the Gulf. That difficulty, according to Goldman, stems from the limited information coming out of the region as a result of the war.
With reliable data scarce, analysts and markets are relying on estimates rather than confirmed export volumes. Goldman’s assessment offers one gauge of how far exports have rebounded from wartime disruption, but the caveats underline how much remains unclear.
CNBC published the Goldman estimate on August 28, 2026, as part of coverage tracking the impact of the conflict on the flow of oil from one of the world’s most important producing regions.
Why it matters
The Gulf is a critical source of the world's oil, so disruptions to its exports can ripple through global energy markets and prices. A recovery to more than 60% of pre-war levels suggests some stabilization, but the difficulty in measuring actual flows leaves considerable uncertainty for markets and consumers.
Frequently asked questions
How much have Gulf oil exports recovered?
Goldman Sachs estimates that oil exports from the Gulf have risen to more than 60% of the level seen before the Iran war.
Why is it hard to know how much oil the Gulf is exporting?
Goldman said it has become difficult to figure out how much oil is flowing from the Gulf because information from the region is limited due to the war.
Who produced this estimate and where was it reported?
The estimate came from Goldman Sachs and was reported by CNBC on August 28, 2026.