U.S. exports of goods and services rose 2.6% in April, to $327.1 billion, according to Commerce Department data released on June 9.

The New York Times reports that, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz boosted U.S. exports of oil and petroleum products to a new monthly record, while exports of other items such as industrial supplies, computers and aircraft were also strong.

The figures demonstrate the topsy-turvy way macroeconomic indicators play out in everyday life. The war in Iran has raised prices for American consumers, with the Consumer Price Index up 3.8%, year-on-year, for March. But it is significantly benefiting U.S. energy companies because of the pinch in oil and gas supplies coming out of the Persian Gulf while the U.S. and Israel wage war on Iran. Other exporters are benefitting from 

Imports also rose, climbing 2% from the previous month, to hit $383 billion, as the U.S. imported electronics to fill out the data centers being built to cope with the burgeoning artificial intelligence market.

Overall, the monthly trade deficit in goods and services dipped to $55.9 billion in April, down 1.2% from the previous month.

The Times says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has scrambled some global supply chains and pushed up the price of products from the Middle East, including oil, fertilizer, product packaging and helium. That has benefited oil exporters in other parts of the world, like the U.S.