Saudi Arabia bypasses the Strait of Hormuz "artery": oil exports have recovered by more than half, and Yanbu Port has become a global energy focal point.

Due to the escalation of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, a global oil transportation artery, has been effectively closed since late February 2026. In the face of this severe challenge, Saudi Arabia has successfully restored over half of its normal level of oil exports through the comprehensive implementation of a strategic bypass plan. Data shows that in the past five days, the daily average oil exports from Yanbu Port reached approximately 4.19 million barrels - a significant proportion of Saudi Arabia's total pre-war export volume of about 7 million barrels, and nearly triple the previous daily average transportation volume of about 1.4 million barrels at the port, highlighting the improved efficiency of emergency channels. The rapid recovery of this export capacity is mainly attributed to Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline that spans across the country. Saudi Aramco continuously transports crude oil from major oil fields in the eastern province to Yanbu Port on the Red Sea coast through the approximately 1,200 km (746 miles) long "East-West Pipeline". Currently, Yanbu Port has become a focus of the global energy market, with at least 32 super tankers and Suezmax tankers waiting for loading off the coast of the port. Although the pipeline is designed to handle up to 7 million barrels per day, the current export volume is close to its short-term operational peak due to physical limitations of the port's loading and unloading facilities. To ensure the stability of oil deliveries and reduce buyer risks, Saudi Aramco has made significant adjustments to its trade model. For core markets such as Asia, Saudi Arabia has shifted from the traditional mode where buyers arrange their own vessels to a logistics strategy of "delivery to destination", coordinating the transportation chain from the Saudi side. Short-term loading data averages typically fluctuate significantly, but Saudi Arabia has clearly stated its plans to increase loading volumes from Red Sea ports to foreign buyers and continue to provide options for long-term customers to receive goods through Yanbu Port. Saudi Aramco has not yet responded to inquiries about the export levels from Yanbu Port. Data for this month shows that the daily oil loading volume at Yanbu Port has reached a maximum of 4.65 million barrels, a record that has occurred three times, while the loading volumes on other dates are relatively lower. From a global perspective, the Strait of Hormuz, as the "throat passage" of the Persian Gulf, usually handles one-fifth of global oil shipments. With storage facilities in the conflict zone becoming saturated, local oil producers are forced to reduce production. Saudi Arabia is the only oil-producing country with a crucial alternative export route; although the United Arab Emirates has pipelines leading to the Gulf of Oman, its route via Fujairah Port has been disrupted several times by drone attacks, making its oil transport vulnerable to external disruptions. However, the partial recovery of Saudi exports cannot completely offset the negative effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil-producing countries in the Persian Gulf such as Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain still face widespread paralysis in their oil exports due to lack of similar cross-border bypass infrastructure. At the same time, the potential threat of attacks in the Red Sea region continues to hang over Saudi Arabia's export route like the "Sword of Damocles". The International Energy Agency has warned that the current situation constitutes the largest energy supply disruption in history. Even if Saudi Arabia succeeds in partially bypassing the issue, the global oil market will still face severe volatility and high premium pressure in the short term.