UAE
net exporterThe ADCOP pipeline to Fujairah bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
Answer
The UAE exports about 2.7 million barrels of crude a day. The largest buyers are Japan (37%), China (28%) and India (20%).
Data: 2025 annual averages
Key figures
- Crude oil exports, barrels per day
- 2.7 million
- Largest buyer
- Japan · 37%
- Real risk
- Strait of Malacca · 76%
Where does the UAE's oil go?
| Buyer | share | thousand b/d |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 37% | 987 |
| China | 28% | 754 |
| India | 20% | 535 |
| South Korea | 11% | 308 |
| other destinations (not on the map) | 4% | 116 |
UN Comtrade, JODI-Oil · 2025
Which chokepoints does the UAE's oil pass through?
The main maritime chokepoints on the way are Strait of Malacca (76% of exports).
- Strait of Malacca76% of exports · 2,049
Real risk: Strait of Malacca – 76% of exports this way. The world's busiest shipping lane, narrow and shallow – risk of collisions, piracy and blockade in a South China Sea conflict.
UN Comtrade · 2025
How much crude oil does the UAE export?
Produces 3.3 million barrels a day. Uses 31% at home and sells 2.7 million (69%) abroad – one supertanker a day.
JODI-Oil · 2025
UAE: how did the 2026 oil crisis affect supplies and prices?
- February 28, 2026Iran closes the Strait of HormuzUAE: 1.3 million barrels a day (48% of exports) with no way throughWikipedia: 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
- March 11, 2026IEA countries release 400 million barrels from emergency stocksUAE: 1.3 million barrels a day (48% of exports) with no way throughIEA, 11 Mar 2026
- September 11, 2026Drones hit Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline – the main route around HormuzUAE: 1.3 million barrels a day (48% of exports) with no way throughCNBC, 14 Sept 2026
- September 28, 2026The East-West pipeline runs again, at lower capacityUAE: 1.3 million barrels a day (48% of exports) with no way throughwnp.pl, 28 Sept 2026
Effect on supplies: model of oil routes (2025 flows), stranded = no sea route left on that day.
Sources
- UN Comtrade – crude oil imports by country of origin (HS 2709), as reported by the importing country · 2025
- JODI-Oil – national crude oil production, imports and exports · 2025
- U.S. EIA – crude oil and petroleum products passing through maritime chokepoints · 2023
Related questions
Download the data
CSV and JSON, CC BY 4.0 – credit “chokepoints.io” with a link. Volumes in thousand barrels per day, 2025 annual averages.
Countries (CSV)Trade routes (CSV)Chokepoints (CSV)Everything (JSON)DOI 10.5281/zenodo.23267750 (Zenodo)