Learn › General Knowledge › Oil and OPEC

Countries targeted by the 1973 oil embargo

The Arab oil producers cut off all oil exports to five countries in 1973: the United States and the Netherlands in October, then Portugal, South Africa and Rhodesia in November.

The full list

October 1973: the first targets 2

Embargoed within days of OAPEC's 17 October decision to cut output, for supporting Israel in the October War.

• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇳🇱Netherlands

Added at Algiers, November 1973 3

Added by the Arab summit at Algiers on 28 November 1973, which banned all Arab oil exports to the three.

• 🇵🇹Portugal
• 🇿🇦South Africa
• Rhodesia

Not on the list

• United Kingdom and France: Classed as favoured by the Arab producers.
• Denmark and the other European Community states: in December 1973 the producers exempted the EC states except the Netherlands from that month's further cut.

Questions

How many countries did the 1973 oil embargo target?

The Arab oil producers cut off all oil exports to five countries in 1973: the United States and the Netherlands in October, then Portugal, South Africa and Rhodesia in November.

Which countries are on the list?

United States, Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa and Rhodesia.

What is an easy way to remember them?

2 + 3: the US and the Netherlands first, then Portugal, South Africa and Rhodesia.

Was Britain under the 1973 oil embargo?

No. Britain and France were classed as favoured by the Arab producers, and lost only a small share of their expected Arab oil.

More lists

Each name checked against at least two sources, one of them US Department of State, on 4 October 2026. Next review by 28 September 2028.
Games · Learn · Atlas · Feedback · Privacy · Contact