SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Crude oil exports from Yanbu have surged to nearly 4 million barrels per day (bpd), highlighting Saudi Aramco’s efforts to sustain supply flows amid disruptions tied to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The sharp increase reflects Aramco’s expanded use of its East-West pipeline, which can transport up to 7 million bpd of crude to Yanbu. Of this, roughly 5 million bpd can be exported, with the remainder feeding domestic refineries. This shift is helping the kingdom bypass constraints caused by the effective closure of key Gulf shipping routes.
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Data shows Yanbu exports have averaged about 2.9 million bpd so far in March, a steep rise from roughly 770,000 bpd recorded in January and February. Analysts expect volumes to continue climbing, potentially approaching the port’s maximum capacity by the end of the month. For instance, Kpler analyst Johannes Rauball expects exports to potentially reach around 5 million bpd by the end of the month.
The surge in shipments has tightened tanker availability, pushing freight rates for Red Sea-to-Asia routes to their highest levels in nearly six years. Increased activity has seen a significant number of very large crude carriers deployed from Yanbu.
Meanwhile, exports from Fujairah have fluctuated, underscoring ongoing regional volatility and the impact of supply disruptions on global oil trade flows.
