Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline reaches full capacity as exports shift to Yanbu
The Facts
- Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is operating at about 7 million barrels per day, its full capacity.
- The pipeline is being used to move oil around the Strait of Hormuz and toward the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
- Crude oil exports through Yanbu are reported at about 5 million barrels per day.
- Saudi Arabia is also exporting roughly 700,000 to 900,000 barrels per day of refined oil products.
- Reports describe the Strait of Hormuz as effectively disrupted or closed because of the Middle East conflict.
- Some reports say 2 million barrels per day of the pipeline’s throughput are used for Saudi refineries rather than export.
Context
What is the East-West pipeline?
It is Saudi Arabia’s pipeline that runs across the kingdom from eastern oil-producing areas to the Red Sea, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz Yahoo! Finance,Bloomberg Business,Firstpost.
Why does this matter for global oil markets?
The reports say the pipeline and Yanbu shipments are helping Saudi Arabia keep oil moving while the Strait of Hormuz route is disrupted, which matters because the strait is a major global energy chokepoint Bloomberg Business,Straits Times,ProPakistani.
Has Saudi Aramco confirmed the report?
No confirmation is reported in the source pool; Reuters says Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the Bloomberg report Reuters.
The receipts — all 39 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (37)
Facts first. Then every angle.
The day’s biggest stories in one short brief — the facts everyone agrees on, then the competing values behind the headlines. Free in your inbox.