Aramco Diversifies Oil Loading Outside Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Aramco is making a strategic move to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes. According to sources, the company has offered more oil for loading outside the strait in September.

The move comes after Aramco sold at least 4 million barrels of crude to China this month, with some cargoes being loaded via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates or Sohar in Oman. This method allows oil tankers to bypass the strait and avoid potential attacks.

Two supertankers carrying 4 million barrels of Saudi crude were bound for China after loading the cargoes via STS transfers off Sohar. The vessels, Singapore Prosperity and Algeria Prosperity, transferred their cargo to other ships before arriving at Chinese ports.