Saudi Arabia Reroutes Oil Shipments Amid Yemeni Attacks

Saudi Arabia has shifted its oil shipment routes to avoid attacks from Yemen in the Red Sea, according to a report by PressTV. The kingdom is relying on confidentiality and alternative shipping lanes to transport crude oil from its western coastline.

Loading operations at Yanbu port are now taking place under heightened secrecy, with oil tankers disabling their tracking systems to minimize the risk of being targeted. Approximately 70% of loading activities along the western coast of Saudi Arabia have been suspended in recent weeks, according to analyst Nohwaya Hin Su.

The shift has impacted exports from Yanbu port, as shipments are increasingly being rerouted through the Suez Canal or Egypt's Sumed pipeline at the Ain Sukhna port. This decision has raised the expense of transporting Saudi crude oil by an estimated $5 to $9 per barrel and extended travel time to Asian markets by approximately 30 days.