Energy ETFs Surge 50% as Hormuz Strait Crisis Pushes WTI Crude to $115

Key Facts

1WTI crude prices rose from near $57 a barrel at the start of 2026 to almost $115 on April 7.

2The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic has reshaped global oil markets.

In a move reflecting the extreme sensitivity of energy markets to geopolitical tensions in vital maritime chokepoints, energy-sector ETFs have surged by over 50%. This rally is driven by a massive spike in oil prices following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic in early 2026, a development that has fundamentally reshaped global oil markets. According to reports, WTI crude prices climbed from near $57 a barrel at the start of the year to approximately $115 by April 7.

The impact of this crisis has extended to global oil majors, with Exxon Mobil (XOM) reaching $136.47 at the close of July 6, 2026. Per market data, peer companies also saw significant activity, with Chevron (CVX) closing at $169.2 and Shell (SHEL) at $78.02 as of July 2, 2026. Analysts note that the disruption at Hormuz, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil consumption, has pushed profit margins for exploration and production firms to multi-year highs as supply chains scramble for alternatives.

Looking ahead, traders are monitoring support levels for XOM near the $136.01 mark, the intraday low from July 6, 2026, to gauge the sustainability of the current trend. Market participants are also focused on upcoming energy data, following the API crude oil stock change report on June 30, 2026, which showed a substantial drawdown of -6.072 million barrels. Any further geopolitical escalations regarding the Strait will remain the primary catalyst for volatility in energy instruments.