3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) began cutting oil output on Saturday and declared force majeure, adding to earlier oil and gas reductions from Iraq and Qatar as the US-Iran war blocked shipments from the Middle East for the eighth consecutive day.
The war has blocked the world’s most important oil artery, the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for 20% of global oil and LNG supply. Analysts predict the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will have to also cut output soon as they run out of oil storage.
KPC declared force majeure, according to a trade notice seen by Reuters, after it implemented a reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput because of the conflict in the Middle East.
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 national oil company did not say by how much it would reduce output. In February, Kuwait produced around 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil.
It said the reduction was precautionary and would be reviewed as the situation develops, and it remained ready to restore production levels when conditions allow.
KPC declared force majeure because of what it said were explicit threats by Iran against the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, continuing attacks by Iran on Kuwait and the “almost total absence” within the Arabian Gulf of vessels available to ship crude oil and products, the notice showed.
Read: Iran war threatens a prolonged hit to global energy markets
The company declined to comment on the notice.
KPC is a major exporter of naphtha to Asia and a major jet fuel exporter to north-west Europe. Naphtha is a feedstock for petrochemicals production.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has already spilt beyond Iran’s borders, as Tehran has responded by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting US military installations and Israel has launched fresh attacks in Lebanon after Hezbollah fired across the border.
