Saudi Arabia Diversifies Oil Exports Through Yanbu Port

Saudi Arabia has been able to maintain its oil exports despite the disruption caused by the war in Iran, thanks to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The East-West Petroline pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to divert oil from fields in the Eastern Province to export through the Red Sea.

When the war disrupted access to the Strait of Hormuz, Aramco ordered buyers of Arab Light crude to utilize Yanbu to allow exports to continue. The port's capacity remains limited, however, and its use means both higher shipping costs and congestion.

The pipeline has a capacity of 7 million barrels per day, with Aramco exporting 5 million barrels per day and western refineries processing the remaining 2 million barrels. In March 2026, Kpler estimated that bypass systems employed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could move a combined 7-8 million barrels per day.

Saudi officials are discussing expanding pipeline capacity by 1-2 million barrels per day, which would allow neighboring states such as Kuwait or Bahrain to access the port. However, Yanbu's utility is impacted by factors beyond pipeline capacity, including crude quality, western refinery demands, storage, shipping schedules, and berths.