Saudi Arabia is pumping 5.8 million barrels per day through its key East-West pipeline, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman confirmed. The pipeline resumed operations five to six days after a 'big hit' from drone attacks launched from Iraq on September 10. State-run Saudi Aramco had ramped flows to nearly 6 million barrels daily, over 80% of capacity, with 4.5 million barrels available for export via the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
The shutdown forced a pivot back to the Strait of Hormuz for exports, though returning supplies through Yanbu helped boost total exports to the highest level since January. The pipeline had served as a critical alternative route during the Iran war, avoiding the perilous Hormuz strait. However, recent Houthi attacks in Yemen have increased pressure on western Saudi infrastructure and tanker routes.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing