Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell sharply on Monday, September 21, 2026, dropping $2.51, to $101.40 a barrel as signs of recovering Saudi crude exports eased concerns over prolonged supply disruptions in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark, also fell sharply, declining $2.44, or 2.43%, to $97.86 a barrel.
The decline extends Brent’s losses into a fourth consecutive session and takes the benchmark to its lowest level since around September 10.
Brent had closed Friday at approximately $103.87 a barrel, while WTI ended at about $100.30. The benchmarks remained relatively stable over the weekend, with Brent trading around $103.50 and WTI near $99.70–$100.
Monday’s decline marks a further retreat from the rally earlier this month, when concerns over Middle East supply disruptions pushed oil prices higher. On September 15, Brent was trading at $105.70 a barrel, while WTI stood at $101.70.
The subsequent decline has been driven in part by signs that Saudi Arabia is restoring crude export flows despite damage to its East-West pipeline and earlier disruptions to loadings at Yanbu.
Saudi Aramco has increased shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and is using ship-to-ship transfers off Oman’s Sohar port to maintain exports. Provisional data indicate that Saudi crude exports have risen to more than 4 million barrels per day so far in September, compared with about 2.4 million barrels per day in August.
Progress toward restoring roughly half of the East-West pipeline’s capacity has also helped reduce immediate concerns about a prolonged supply shortfall, putting further pressure on Brent prices.
