Saudi Oil Exports Face Challenges Amid Houthi Attacks in Red Sea

Saudi Arabia is facing challenges in rerouting its oil exports due to Houthi attacks. The Iran-aligned group has declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, expanding attacks on tankers carrying global energy and other supplies beyond the Gulf.

Two tanker vessels, Lesvos and Desh Vaibhav, exited the Red Sea over the weekend with their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transponders switched off. The Lesvos was carrying about 1 million barrels of Saudi crude, while the Desh Vaibhav is heading to India's Sikka port.

According to Kpler data, the number of commodity vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell to 18 on Sunday, from 27 on Saturday and 28 on Friday. The Strait of Hormuz also saw slowed traffic with only 10 vessels passing through on Saturday, compared to 19 on Friday.