The UAE uses “dark transits” to export oil through Hormuz during the conflict in Iran
The United Arab Emirates has increased oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz with the help of the Korean Sinokor Group, using complex routes to avoid obstacles during the war in Iran.
After the start of the military conflict in Iran, Abu Dhabi turned to unusual methods to support oil exports. To do this, the UAE uses a tactic known as “dark transits”: ships turn off their transponders, conduct cargo transshipments in open waters, and quickly return for new batches. A significant player in these operations has been the South Korean company Sinokor Group, which since mid-April has been actively leasing its vessels to the Abu Dhabi National Oil, providing shuttle services between the emirates and foreign ports.
The leasing of a large number of tankers allowed the UAE to significantly increase oil production volumes, even amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Bloomberg, by June, the share of exports involving Sinokor tankers could have constituted almost half of the country’s total oil exports.
Analysts note that such a tactic has allowed the UAE to quickly boost oil exports despite the conflict in Iran and the associated risks of crossing the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the implementation of such shipments allows companies to earn tens of millions of dollars in profit, given the increased freight rates.
Amid the increase in oil exports under conflict conditions, the UAE is working on accelerating the project for the construction of a new oil pipeline, which will double capacity and reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, passing through Fujairah.
