Energy & Petrochemicals #energy security#strait of hormuz
IEA warns global energy security at risk if Strait of Hormuz oil flows are not restored
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned on July 17, 2026, that global energy security is at risk if oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are not restored in the next few weeks. The waterway has been mostly blocked since the conflict began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Birol highlighted that China's stockpile of over 1 billion barrels and an IEA-coordinated release of up to 400 million barrels have moderated price rises, but these measures cannot last indefinitely.
Jul 17, 2026 1 source