20 April 2026: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has declared force majeure on crude oil and refined product exports, citing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as making it impossible to meet contractual obligations.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has declared force majeure on certain oil shipments following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The declaration was issued after shipping routes were impacted by escalating regional conditions, preventing the fulfilment of contractual delivery obligations. Force majeure clauses have been invoked to suspend performance under affected supply contracts due to circumstances beyond operational control.

The measure applies to export agreements involving crude oil shipments, allowing Kuwait to temporarily halt deliveries without breaching contractual obligations.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.