Saudi Crude Loadings Resume from Hormuz Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia has resumed crude oil loadings from terminals inside the Strait of Hormuz after a nearly three-week pause, despite ongoing insecurity affecting both Gulf and Red Sea shipping routes.

New shipping data shows that between August 12 and 16, three very large crude carriers loaded around two million barrels each from Juaymah and Ras Tanura.

The resumption of loadings from Hormuz is significant because Saudi Arabia had been trying to reduce its exposure to the strait while attacks and military tensions made commercial shipping more difficult.

Saudi Aramco has also started offering some crude to Asian buyers through ship-to-ship transfers near Fujairah in the UAE, but this alternative route is facing pressure due to Houthi attacks and threats in the Red Sea.