Strait of Hormuz

Main article: Oil production in the world

In 2025, the Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for global oil trade: about 20 million barrels per day pass through it, or 90% of oil exports from the Persian Gulf.

The Persian Gulf is the energy center of the world:

• 55% of the world's oil reserves and 39% of natural gas.
• 42% of global oil exports and 17% of gas production.

Main exporters Saudi Arabia Iraq Kuwait:,,,,,. UAE Qatar Iran

2024: Tanker Traffic Intensity Map Across the Strait

2023:33% of oil across the strait goes to China, 13% to India

2022: Iran has lost leverage with the US through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. More than half of China's oil imports go through the strait

But Iran's influence on the flow of oil through the strait has weakened - due to a change in sales markets: now the main consumer is China, not the United States or the EU.

From 2001 to 2022, oil exports from the Persian Gulf to the United States fell by 72%, to the EU - by 37%.

At the same time, exports to China grew by 800% - supplies through the strait account for 57% of oil imports in China.

China is the region's main energy partner. In 2022, Gulf trade with China reached $385 billion, exceeding trade with the EU and the United States.

China has also become a key political mediator (for example, the normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 with the support of Beijing).

Consequences:

• The United States has become energy independent, and China is dependent on imports.

• Iran's pressure through Hormuz now affects the West less, but risks hitting China, making Beijing interested in the stability of the region.

Any disruption in Hormuz could raise oil prices, which is beneficial to the United States, but risky for China.