Saudi Aramco Halts October Crude Shipments to Europe

The East-West pipeline, which typically transports up to 5 million barrels per day to Yanbu, remains hampered by recent attacks. This infrastructure previously allowed Saudi crude to reach the Mediterranean via Egypt’s SUMED system, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. With that route compromised, Aramco has pivoted to exporting roughly 60 million barrels from its Persian Gulf terminal at Ras Tanura.

These diverted shipments are being directed toward China, South Korea, India, and Japan, leaving European refiners to source alternatives elsewhere. Companies like Poland’s Orlen are already scrambling for North Sea, U.S., and Kazakh supplies after earlier September cargoes were delayed. While U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright expects the East-West pipeline to regain partial capacity within days, a full recovery remains at least six weeks away. Consequently, the benchmark Dated Brent has reached $130 this week, reflecting the heightened strain on European physical markets.