{"id":66496,"date":"2026-08-13T19:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T23:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/u-s-asserts-control-over-hormuz-oil-flows-new-zealand-manufacturing-eases\/66496\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T19:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T23:08:13","slug":"u-s-asserts-control-over-hormuz-oil-flows-new-zealand-manufacturing-eases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/u-s-asserts-control-over-hormuz-oil-flows-new-zealand-manufacturing-eases\/66496\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Asserts Control Over Hormuz Oil Flows; New Zealand Manufacturing Eases"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have rebounded to nearly 9 million barrels per day (bpd), bolstered by U.S. military escorts.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Total Middle East oil exports, including bypass pipelines, are averaging approximately 15 million bpd, though private tracking firms suggest actual volumes may be significantly lower.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>New Zealand\u2019s July Manufacturing PMI fell to 54.3 from a revised 60.1 in June, indicating continued expansion but at a cooling pace due to Middle East-related cost pressures.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The U.S. Department of Energy claims &quot;total control&quot; over the strategic waterway, dismissing Iranian attempts to disrupt the global economy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>U.S. Energy Secretary <strong>Chris Wright<\/strong> announced on Thursday that oil transits through the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> are continuing to increase as the U.S. military expands its ability to escort commercial vessels. Wright stated that the seven-day average for oil leaving the strategic chokepoint has reached nearly <strong>9 million barrels per day (bpd)<\/strong>. He emphasized that the U.S. is &quot;talking and coordinating with every ship&quot; to ensure the safe passage of energy products despite ongoing regional tensions.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary further noted that when combined with newly upgraded pipelines and export facilities that bypass the strait, total oil flows from the region are averaging roughly <strong>15 million bpd<\/strong>. Wright accused <strong>Iran<\/strong> of attempting to &quot;hold the world economy hostage&quot; by threatening the waterway, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil consumption. He asserted that the U.S. maintains precise tracking of all daily transits, claiming that over <strong>20 million barrels<\/strong> left the Gulf on Sunday alone, surpassing pre-conflict levels.<\/p>\n<p>However, the administration&#39;s figures have met with skepticism from private commodity analysts. Data from firms like <strong>Kpler<\/strong> and <strong>Commodity Context<\/strong> suggest that sea-borne exports through the strait may be as low as <strong>2.7 million to 7 million bpd<\/strong>, significantly undercutting the government&#39;s optimistic report. Analysts noted that while the U.S. claims &quot;100% control&quot; of the route, high fuel prices and market volatility persist as traders weigh the conflicting data.<\/p>\n<p>In economic data from the Asia-Pacific region, <strong>New Zealand&#39;s<\/strong> manufacturing sector showed signs of cooling in July. The <strong>BusinessNZ-BNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI)<\/strong> fell to <strong>54.3<\/strong> from June&#39;s multi-year high of <strong>59.7<\/strong> (revised to 60.1 in some reports). While a reading above 50 still indicates expansion, the drop reflects a normalization of activity after an exceptional June.<\/p>\n<p>The survey highlighted a shift in sentiment, with <strong>57%<\/strong> of respondent comments turning negative. Manufacturers cited elevated freight and fuel costs\u2014driven by the Middle East conflict\u2014and domestic election uncertainty as primary headwinds. Despite the headline decline, all sub-indices remained in expansion territory, with production leading at <strong>57.3<\/strong>, though new orders eased to <strong>53.3<\/strong>, suggesting a more cautious outlook for the coming months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have rebounded to nearly 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