Saudi Aramco has begun loading crude oil from its Gulf coast terminals at Ras Tanura for the first time since the Strait of Hormuz was closed in early March, in the latest indication that last week’s US-Iran agreement is enabling a cautious increase in flows through the strait (MEES, 19 June). Three laden VLCCs managed by Saudi Arabia’s Bahri that had been stuck in the Gulf since the start of the war exited the strait last week, and are on the way to buyers in Asia. Now, more notably, some empty Bahri tankers have crossed the strait into the Gulf to start loading.
Ras Tanura consists of two crude export terminals – Ras Tanura and Juaymah – and Kpler data shows that the Qasba, Amad and Zaynah VLCCs are all offshore Juaymah, with Zaynah loading crude as MEES went to press. Another two VLCCs – Karan and Manifa – that were last week moving towards the Gulf have turned off their AIS transponders, and satellite imagery shows two VLCCs appearing to approach Ras Tanura on 25 June. (CONTINUED - 237 WORDS)