Iraq's Ministry of Oil announced that crude oil exports have averaged approximately 2.6 million barrels per day in September, up from around 2 million bpd in August but below the roughly 3.3–3.5 million bpd exported before disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry clarified that a recently reported export level above 4 million bpd represented a single day rather than the September average. Iraq has maintained exports through southern ports, its northern export route and additional State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) cargoes loaded outside the Strait of Hormuz as the country works to diversify its crude export routes.