According to CoinMeta, recent disruptions in supply through the Strait of Hormuz have driven up prices of Brent and WTI crude oil. The price of Brent crude oil has remained above $93 per barrel, while WTI crude oil is close to $87, despite weak demand signals from the United States. Brent crude oil futures traded at $93.55 on August 21, down 0.3% from the previous trading day. Supply from the Middle East remains the main driving factor; the volume of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is far below normal levels, with only 7 cargo ships passing through on Thursday. OPEC plans to increase production by 188,000 barrels per day in September, although ongoing disruptions in the Middle East may limit additional supply.