As of April 13, 2026, at least 121 empty oil tankers are en route to the U.S. Gulf Coast, with 68 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) among them—each capable of hauling roughly 2 million barrels of oil.

Data from Kpler shows this is a sharp increase from just 24 tankers the week before the Iran war began in February, and above the 2025 average of 27. The surge is driven by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global oil supplies.

President Trump has urged nations hit by the disruption to either buy American oil or secure the strait themselves. He recently stated that "massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers ... are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and 'sweetest' oil anywhere in the world". Kpler projects U.S. crude exports will reach a record 5.2 million barrels per day in May.

The shift highlights a significant realignment of global energy flows, with international buyers increasingly turning to American supplies amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.