Aramco Boosts Oil Sales Outside Strait of Hormuz Amid Security Risks

Saudi Aramco has increased its oil sales outside the Strait of Hormuz in September, offering more crude to Asian buyers via ship-to-ship (STS) transfers off Fujairah and Sohar. This move comes after two supertankers carrying 4 million barrels of Saudi crude were bound for China.

According to shipping data from Vortexa and Kpler, VLCC Xin Hui Yang is expected to arrive at the Ningbo port in eastern China on September 15 with a cargo of Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude. Another supertankers, VLCC Xin Han Yang, is expected to arrive at the Zhanjiang port in southern China on September 12.

Aramco has declined to comment on this matter. However, it has been reported that the company has resorted to shuttling cargoes aboard tankers with their trackers switched off to evade attacks during transit through the strait.