Saudi Aramco Shifts Crude Exports To Yanbu

6 Mar 2026 Issue: 69 / 10 By: Jamie Ingram

Aramco is implementing its Hormuz-bypass contingency plan, shifting crude exports from Ras Tanura to Yanbu. It’s an invaluable option, but it does come with limitations. The first step would likely be to redirect around 2mn b/d of Arab Light exports from the Gulf to Yanbu.

Saudi Aramco is offering buyers the option to load crude oil from its Red Sea terminals at Yanbu, rather than the primary Gulf terminals at Ras Tanura. The move comes as tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz have slowed to a virtual standstill (MEES, 6 March) due to the conflict between the US-Israeli alliance and Iran.

“Aramco has adjusted crude cargo operations to prioritize safety, service continuity, and help ensure reliability, temporarily redirecting allocated volumes to Yanbu as an option for customers unable to enter the Arabian Gulf,” an Aramco spokesperson told MEES. “We remain fully committed to supporting and serving customers and are continuously assessing conditions with the aim of resuming standard procedures.” (CONTINUED - 1736 WORDS)