Saudi East-West Pipeline Ramps Up Flows, but Yanbu Tanker Loadings Stall

Saudi Arabia is increasing crude pumping through its East-West Pipeline toward the Red Sea export hub of Yanbu, but tanker loadings there have not yet restarted, according to industry sources, satellite imagery and shipping data.

The pipeline was brought back into service this week after a drone attack forced it to shut earlier this month. The resumption had raised expectations of a recovery in oil flows from the Middle East, which have been disrupted by the US-Iran war.

However, the latest indications point to a slower return of shipments than initially anticipated. Loading had been scheduled for Tuesday, but that has not materialised.

One industry source said crude is being directed through the pipeline into Saudi Arabia's refineries on the Red Sea coast. Even so, the source added that crude loading into tankers has yet to resume. Two other sources also confirmed that tanker loadings remain suspended.

State oil company Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The East-West Pipeline is a key artery for Saudi crude, offering an alternative route to the Red Sea and bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Its full return to export operations is being closely watched as a signal of how quickly regional oil flows can normalise.