Khaberni - Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant increase in crude oil exports through the Red Sea ports, in a strategic move to compensate for the disruption of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, although the flows have not yet reached the targeted levels.
According to data published on the website «Alarabiya.net», oil exports from Yanbu Port reached about 4 million barrels per day during the first three weeks of April, representing an increase of about five times compared to levels before the Iran war.
This shift comes amid ongoing navigation restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, making Yanbu Port one of the most important global alternatives for oil transportation, especially via the «East-West» pipeline, which spans 1,200 kilometers and has a maximum capacity of 7 million barrels per day.
Compensating the stop
«Saudi Aramco» pumps crude through the East-West pipeline to Yanbu to maintain supply flow and compensate for the near-complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict.
On March 10, «Aramco» stated that it could pump up to 7 million barrels per day through the pipeline, with about 5 million barrels per day available for export while supplying local refineries with the remainder.
The East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia, which measures 1,200 kilometers, can transport up to 7 million barrels per day of crude oil to Yanbu Port on the Red Sea, with actual exports estimated at about 4.5 million barrels per day, depending on the availability of tankers and port berths.
From Yanbu, shipments can head to Europe via the Suez Canal or south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to reach Asia.
