Saudis pivot to send more oil through Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Aramco has shifted about 20 million barrels of spot crude to Asian refiners for September‑October pickup outside the Strait of Hormuz after the shutdown of its East‑West pipeline, which halted cross‑country flows to the Red Sea. The sales, confirmed by unnamed traders, include Chinese state‑owned and independent processors as well as other East‑Asian importers. The pipeline, the main link that allowed Saudi exports to bypass Iran‑related turbulence in Hormuz, was closed last week following attacks; no date for resumption has been given. The move signals Riyadh’s pivot back to the traditional Gulf route even as shipping risks remain. Aramco has already delayed some European deliveries from its Red Sea port of Yanbu, and Asian buyers are pressing the company for loading updates. The spot cargoes are slated for ship‑to‑ship loading in the Gulf of Oman during September and October, meaning the oil will still transit Hormuz but the buyers will not bear that leg of the voyage. Saudi Aramco declined to comment. (Bloomberg News, 16 Sept 2026).