Saudi Oil Tankers Take Long Route Around Africa Amid Yemen Conflict

Saudi oil tankers are taking a detour around Africa to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which has become a danger zone due to the conflict in Yemen.

At least six empty supertankers from Saudi Arabia have taken the long route through the Suez Canal to Egypt's Sidi Kerir port instead of loading at Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

The detour adds thousands of miles to every trip, burning more fuel, taking more time, and tying up ships that could be moving other loads.

Asian refiners are pushing back against Saudi Aramco's requests to pick up crude at Yanbu, asking for Sidi Kerir instead because they couldn't find available ships for the Red Sea leg.