Aramco Signals Yanbu Crude Loadings May Resume for Asian Refiners

Saudi Aramco has informally told at least three Asian refiners that crude cargoes could soon be available again at the Red Sea port of Yanbu, traders familiar with the matter said, potentially easing supply concerns after weeks of disruption. Yanbu loadings have been halted since September 10, 2026, when drone attacks disabled the 750-mile East-West pipeline linking Saudi oilfields to the Red Sea. Aramco has since rerouted volumes through the Strait of Hormuz, offering ship-to-ship transfers at Oman's Sohar port. Europe remains cut off from October Yanbu loadings. No timeline was given for the restart. Regional officials said pipeline repairs could take three to five weeks, with partial operations at half capacity possible within days and full capacity targeted in about six weeks. Restored Yanbu flows, alongside higher Hormuz shipments, could ease market fears over Saudi supply as refiners chase exceptionally strong diesel margins.