The International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest monthly report indicates that the United Arab Emirates' average daily crude oil production surged to 4.1 million barrels in June, setting a new historical record.

This figure surpasses the previous peak of 4 million barrels per day in 2020, which occurred when the UAE significantly ramped up production during a brief price war with Saudi Arabia over OPEC+ policy.

This record high follows the UAE's withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), further demonstrating that the country's response to supply disruptions caused by the Iran war has been more aggressive than any of its Persian Gulf neighbors.

Since the conflict erupted, the UAE's assertive strategy has become increasingly evident: on one hand, deploying its own substantial fleet, and on the other, chartering additional vessels controlled by South Korea's Sinokor Group, which now operates the world's largest fleet of very large crude carriers.

Several of these ships operate as "dark vessels," with their digital transponders turned off, transporting crude oil out of the Persian Gulf without surveillance.

The strong recovery in production largely occurred before this week's attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and prior to that, the UAE announced its exit from OPEC in late April to free itself from the organization's production limits and fully advance its expansion plans.

The rebound in Persian Gulf crude exports, combined with the fragile peace agreement between the US and Iran, initially shifted the global market from a state of tight supply to signs of oversupply in some key regions, erasing the cumulative gains in oil prices accumulated during the war.

However, the situation changed again this Wednesday—US President Trump declared the ceasefire agreement essentially invalid after the two sides exchanged fire in the Persian Gulf.

The US military struck targets inside Iran for two consecutive days, while Tehran launched attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.

Brent crude futures briefly exceeded $80 per barrel earlier this week but had fallen below $76 by Friday.

IEA data also shows that other major oil-producing nations in the Gulf have simultaneously increased production but have not yet returned to pre-war levels.

Saudi Arabia's average daily production in June was 7.3 million barrels, an increase of 900,000 barrels from the previous month; Kuwait's daily output rose to 1.4 million barrels, and Iraq's increased to 2 million barrels.

The agency also noted that, despite the rise in crude oil flows, refining activity in the Gulf region has been relatively slow to respond, with refined product exports still below half of pre-conflict levels.