Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has significantly reduced shipments through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea following attacks by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi militants. Instead, the kingdom is routing crude north through the Red Sea to Egypt's Sumed pipeline, which transports it to the Mediterranean — a costlier, weeks-longer detour for Asian markets. This marks the second major rerouting since the war in Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, previously the primary transit point for Saudi Aramco exports.

"It adds another layer of complexity to the supply disruptions," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at Kpler. Saudi exports millions of barrels daily, and its national security strategy depends on being a reliable energy supplier. Neil Quilliam of Chatham House noted the moves highlight "the limits of Saudi resilience" but also reinforce confidence in crisis management.

Kpler data shows over 1.9 million barrels per day flowed through the Sumed route in August, up from fewer than 650,000 in June, mostly Saudi crude. Tankers unload at Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea, then either transit the Suez Canal or transfer to Mediterranean-side tankers. The scramble underscores how simultaneous threats to multiple maritime choke points have upturned global energy logistics.