Saudi Oil Exports Under Siege as Attacks on Pipelines and Maritime Routes Intensify

Saudi Arabia is facing a severe challenge in exporting its vast oil reserves as attacks on its main pipeline and maritime routes force it to rely on increasingly precarious options. The East-West pipeline, which spans over 1,200 kilometers, has been shut down after attacks originating from Iraq, home to pro-Iran armed groups. This pipeline became crucial for Riyadh's oil trade after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the Middle East war, choking its main export route.

The usefulness of the pipeline's Red Sea outlet has been curtailed by Houthi attacks from Yemen and their weeks-long maritime blockade on vessels serving Saudi ports. The kingdom is still able to export part of its oil, which is piped to Yanbu and then exported via the Suez Canal or Egypt's Ain Sokhna.

However, this route comes with significant risks, including navigating through the Hormuz Strait, where Iran has repeatedly attacked commercial shipping. Saudi Arabia has also been using the Suez Canal, with transits of Saudi crude reaching 500,000 barrels per day in July. By combining the Suez and Sumed pipeline routes, up to 3.4 million barrels of Saudi crude could theoretically bypass Bab al-Mandab each day.