Crude oil throughput via the ‘East-West’ pipeline, which links the eastern and western regions of Saudi Arabia, has reached its peak capacity. This route has become vital due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia has ramped up the crucial ‘East-West’ crude pipeline to its maximum operational level of 7 million barrels per day, as reported by Bloomberg, citing informed sources.
This conduit transports oil from the kingdom’s eastern territories to the western side near the Red Sea, establishing an alternative supply channel bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which has been obstructed by Iran.
Approximately 2 million barrels are channeled to domestic refineries, with the remainder being exported via the Yanbu port on the Red Sea. Shipments of crude oil through this terminal have now hit 5 million barrels daily.
As part of an emergency contingency strategy, tanker traffic has been redirected towards Yanbu, transforming it into the principal hub for exporting oil outside the Strait of Hormuz.
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