Aramco Boosts Oil Sales Outside Strait of Hormuz Amid Shipping Concerns

Saudi Aramco has increased oil sales outside the Strait of Hormuz in September after selling at least 4 million barrels to China this month.

The state-owned oil company has offered more crude for loading outside the strait, with some cargoes heading to China via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates or Sohar in Oman.

The move comes after two supertankers carrying 4 million barrels of Saudi crude were bound for China after loading the cargoes via STS transfers off Sohar, according to shipping data from Vortexa and Kpler.

Aramco has also sold at least 4 million barrels of heavier grades to PetroChina and Sinochem last week after resuming oil loading at the Ras Tanura port earlier in August.