Yanbu on Fire: Saudi Oil Exports Strained by Pipeline Shutdown
The latest attack on Saudi energy infrastructure has left the kingdom's oil exports under strain. Satellite imagery and thermal data have captured intense fires at the Aramco complex in Yanbu, which is now the primary remaining crude outlet for Saudi Arabia.
Over the past month, Houthi forces in Yemen and Iran-aligned groups operating from Iraq have repeatedly targeted Saudi energy infrastructure, causing damage to refineries and pumping stations. The East-West Pipeline, which carries 4-5 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil, has been shut down since September 10 after drones struck pumping stations.
The pipeline's shutdown has reduced Saudi crude production to 6.238 million bpd in August, the lowest level since 1990, according to the kingdom's report to OPEC. Observed seaborne crude exports have dropped to roughly 3-3.2 million bpd, well below pre-war levels near 7 million bpd or higher.