Saudi Arabia Seeks Ship-to-Ship Crude Oil Exports Off Oman Coast

Saudi Arabia is exploring an alternative method for crude oil exports due to difficulties in securing traditional routes. The country's state-run oil company, Aramco, is proposing ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of Oman as a solution.

This approach involves shuttle tankers loading crude oil at ports within the Persian Gulf and transferring it to waiting oil tankers at Omani ports such as Sohar in the Gulf of Oman. The method was initially devised by the United Arab Emirates after the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded following the war between the US and Iran.

Saudi Arabia has made this proposal to Chinese refiners regarding its Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude grades, which are mostly produced from offshore oilfields in the Persian Gulf. The country is seeking to avoid using the Red Sea port of Yanbu as a detour due to a recent blockade declaration by Yemen's Houthi rebels.