Saudi Aramco Resumes Oil Loadings in Strait of Hormuz After Halt

Saudi Aramco has resumed oil loadings from inside the Strait of Hormuz after halting sales for weeks due to attacks on its tanker fleet. The state energy giant loaded 2 million barrels of crude each onto three very large crude carriers between August 12 and 16.

Data from shiptrackers Vortexa and Kpler showed a three-week gap since the previous loading at the ports. Saudi Aramco had halted sales after attacks during an escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict last month.

The resumption of Saudi exports could help ease tight supplies of heavier crude grades, which produce more residue fuel for ships or can be further processed by refineries into fuels including gasoline and diesel.