Saudi Crude Shipments to Pakistan Resume Through Red Sea

ISLAMABAD: Saudi crude oil shipments to Pakistan through the Red Sea route have resumed after Saudi Arabia restarted operations on its East-West oil pipeline, easing concerns over supplies disrupted by the conflict in the region.

The pipeline carries crude from Saudi oilfields in the eastern part of the kingdom to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing oil shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that operations resumed at a reduced rate following the pipeline shutdown caused by a September 13 drone attack.

The reopening of the pipeline has enabled crude loading operations at Yanbu to resume.

According to Arab News, a cargo for a Pakistani refinery was already being loaded, while Pakistan’s refineries had been informed about the resumption of Saudi crude supplies from Yanbu.

Pakistan had increased its reliance on the Yanbu route after disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz affected traditional Gulf oil supplies.

The Red Sea route provides Pakistan with an alternative supply channel because tankers departing Yanbu can travel through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab before entering the Arabian Sea.

Industry officials told Arab News that Pakistan requires around 14 to 16 crude cargoes each month, with about four cargoes currently arriving through the Yanbu-Bab al-Mandab route.

The resumed shipments could therefore help reduce pressure on Pakistan’s fuel supply chain as regional maritime disruptions continue.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline has a previous capacity of around 7 million barrels per day, while Reuters said flows initially resumed at a lower rate after damage to pumping stations. Full capacity could take several weeks to restore.

The restart also contributed to easing international oil prices, although energy markets remain sensitive to developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East conflict.