Crude oil prices extended their climb from Monday even as reported flows through the Strait of Hormuz improved considerably from the start of September. Brent was trading at $107.37 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $94.31, with the widening spread linked to reports of a possible U.S. ban on diesel exports. Kpler estimated daily oil flows out of Hormuz at 12.8 million barrels, above most expectations, although its tanker tracking shows traffic remains severely impaired. The tracking does not fully capture vessels operating in dark mode or ship-to-ship transfers. Saudi Arabia has used such transfers after Yemeni Houthis struck energy infrastructure, including the East-West pipeline and Yanbu port. Higher tanker rates, tighter vessel availability and the rerouting of maritime traffic from the Red Sea around the Cape of Good Hope have increased the cost and duration of Middle Eastern crude shipments, supporting elevated prices.