Saudi Arabia has successfully maximized its East-West pipeline capacity to 7 million barrels per day, a critical move to bypass the now-closed Strait of Hormuz. This achievement marks the culmination of decades of contingency planning to ensure uninterrupted oil exports amid escalating regional tensions.
The pipeline, stretching over 1,000 kilometers from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, has become a lifeline for global oil supply. Currently, approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil and 700,000 to 900,000 barrels of refined products are being exported daily through Yanbu.
This bypass, while crucial, only partially offsets the loss of the Strait of Hormuz, which previously facilitated around 15 million barrels of crude shipments daily.
The Yemen-based Houthi faction’s potential involvement in the conflict raises concerns about the Red Sea becoming a new battleground. Although the Houthis have not explicitly targeted Red Sea shipping, their history of drone and missile threats in the region poses a significant risk.
This strategic maneuver underscores Saudi Arabia’s role as a reliable global oil supplier, even in the face of unprecedented geopolitical challenges.