KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has implemented a precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput following threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid the expanding Iran war, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said on Saturday.
The state-owned oil company said the move was part of its “risk management and business continuity strategy” amid what it described as ongoing Iranian attacks and threats to safe passage for vessels in the strategic waterway.
“In light of the ongoing aggression by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the State of Kuwait, including Iranian threats against safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, KPC has implemented a precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput,” the company said in a statement.
KPC said the adjustment was temporary and would be reviewed as the situation evolves.
“KPC emphasizes that this adjustment is strictly precautionary and will be reviewed as the situation develops. It remains fully prepared to restore production levels once conditions allow,” the statement said.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) announces that in light of the ongoing aggression by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the State of Kuwait, including Iranian threats against safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, KPC has implemented a precautionary reduction in… pic.twitter.com/tOmwNK7ykk
— KPC | مؤسسة البترول الكويتية (@kpcofficialkw) March 7, 2026
The company added that domestic fuel requirements remain fully secured and stressed that employee safety and protection of national assets remain top priorities.
“KPC remains committed to prioritizing employee safety, safeguarding Kuwait’s national assets, and promoting stability within global energy markets,” it added.
Rising tensions in the Gulf
The move comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.
Kuwait’s decision reflects wider concerns among Gulf energy producers about potential disruptions to tanker traffic and risks to oil infrastructure as the conflict escalates.
While KPC did not disclose the scale of the reduction, Kuwait is one of the world’s major oil producers and typically pumps around 2.5 million barrels per day as a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Following a recent drone strike, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco earlier this week shut down its Ras Tanura refinery — one of the largest in the region — as a safety measure.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been one of the most sensitive flashpoints in global energy security.
