Saudi Arabia Reroutes Oil via Oman as Yanbu Exports Stall

Saudi Arabia's crude loadings fell from 7.5 million barrels per day in early 2026 to about 2.1 million barrels per day by mid-September, a drop of more than 70 percent. The kingdom is now routing some crude through tanker-to-tanker transfers off Oman to keep exports moving.

The East-West pipeline, known as Petroline, runs 1,200 kilometres from Saudi Arabia's main oil fields in the east to Yanbu port on the Red Sea coast. Drone strikes disrupted it earlier this month, removing 4 to 5 million barrels per day from global supply, according to Al Jazeera. The Associated Press, citing regional officials, estimated repairs could take three to five weeks.

Saudi Arabia has two main seaborne export routes. Most crude previously left through the Strait of Hormuz in the east. That route has been largely closed since February. The Red Sea route via Yanbu, which allowed tankers to bypass Hormuz, is now also restricted after the pipeline damage and heightened activity near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Arabia is now sending crude via dark tanker movements and tanker-to-tanker transfers anchored off Sohar, Oman, to work around both blockages.

Saudi Arabia has also canceled some oil cargoes to buyers, the Straits Times reported. Gulf-side export volumes are picking up as an alternative channel, according to Maritime Professional, but analysts caution that real figures may run higher because some tankers cross Hormuz with their tracking off.

This follows the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline on September 11 after drone strikes, and the Houthi seizure of the Greater and Lesser Hanish Islands on September 14, 160 kilometres north of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.