strait of hormuz
The Iran-America war, which has been going on for more than 100 days, now appears to be moving towards peace. In fact, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, there has almost been talk between America and Iran regarding a ceasefire and both the countries have agreed to end the war immediately and permanently. Amidst all this, once again the Strait of Hormuz is at the center of discussion. A large part of the world’s total maritime oil trade passes through this narrow sea route. For Iran, it is not just a waterway but the axis of its economy.
According to experts, oil export through Hormuz is the biggest source of earning foreign exchange for Iran. This is the reason that whenever there is a possibility of closure or obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, the first question arises on Iran’s income.
Iran continues to export up to 26 lakh barrels of oil daily
According to available data, Iran has been exporting about 24 lakh to 28 lakh barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per day under normal circumstances. In many reports this figure has been stated to be an average of 26 lakh barrels per day.
About 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The country’s major oil terminals and export facilities are located in the Persian Gulf, so using the Strait of Hormuz to access international markets is almost essential.
After all, how much was the daily earning?
Earnings from oil are estimated on the basis of oil price and export quantity. According to various energy analyses, Iran’s average daily oil income before the impact of the conflict and sanctions was estimated at between $130 to 160 million (about Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 1,350 crore).
According to some reports, before the war and regional tensions began, Iran was earning about $115 million per day in oil income. Later, due to rise in oil prices, this figure increased to about $ 139 million per day.
If seen in Indian currency, the daily income of 139 million dollars is equivalent to approximately Rs 1,190 crore per day. This means that Iran can earn more than Rs 35,000 crore every month only from oil exports.
Oil is the biggest source of government income
The role of oil sector in Iran’s economy is very important. A large part of government revenue comes from the oil and gas sector. This money is used in government schemes, subsidies, infrastructure and public expenditure.
Experts believe that if there is a big decline in oil exports, it can have a direct impact on the financial condition of the government. Foreign exchange reserves, import capacity and domestic development projects may also be affected.
Why will problems increase if Hormuz is closed?
The Strait of Hormuz has dual importance for Iran. On one hand, most of the country’s oil exports take place through this route, while on the other hand, the import of many essential commodities and fuel products is also connected to this route.
Iran does have Chabahar port on the Arabian Sea coast, but there is not enough infrastructure to export oil on a large scale. In such a situation, disruption in Hormuz would mean that oil exports would be affected and the government’s income would be directly affected.
Additional benefit from rise in oil prices
In recent years, when regional tensions increased, there was a rise in the prices of crude oil in the global market. According to some analyses, due to this, Iran started getting better prices for its oil and its daily income increased significantly. Iran’s daily oil income was estimated to reach about $139 million in March 2026, which was much higher than before. This means that high oil prices gave Iran an opportunity to earn additional revenue despite sanctions and geopolitical challenges.
Global market is also affected
Not only Iran, but also oil from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, any kind of tension here affects global oil prices.
Energy experts say that if there is prolonged disruption in Hormuz, oil prices in the international market may increase rapidly. This may affect many oil importing countries of the world including India.
Before the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran was earning about 130 to 160 million dollars per day through oil exports. In many estimates this figure is said to be 139 million dollars per day. This is why Hormuz is called the economic lifeline of Iran.
