Saudi Arabia Restarts East-West Pipeline, Boosts Red Sea Exports
Saudi Arabia has resumed oil exports through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu, providing an alternative route for crude shipments that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline can carry up to 7 million barrels of crude per day from Saudi Arabia's eastern oil region to Yanbu.
The restart follows repairs to a damaged section of the pipeline after a drone attack destroyed a pumping station. Saudi Aramco began testing and rebuilding pressure during the previous week, with meaningful flows resuming by the weekend.
Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to roughly two-thirds of pre-war levels, while Saudi exports through the Red Sea have resumed. The East-West pipeline's restart is a further step in restoring its role in Saudi Arabia's crude logistics.