Saudi Arabia risks losing exports equal to as much as 4% of global oil supply unless its East-West pipeline restarts within days, Reuters reported on September 13, citing oil buyers and traders. Their warning concerns supplies held in storage that are running down after drone attacks forced the route offline.
Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said on September 11 that attacks struck the pipeline in Riyadh and Madinah regions on September 10. Officials described the shutdown as precautionary and reported injuries. Emergency and technical teams responded to secure the line and assess its safety, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The route’s importance extends beyond the immediate outage. In its August 4 results, Aramco said the pipeline, storage facilities and export terminals had helped sustain production and exports despite disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Chief executive Amin Nasser linked that continuity to the company’s infrastructure and long-term planning.
Reuters said the pipeline had diverted about 4 million barrels daily to Yanbu on the Red Sea. Three industry sources estimated that the port’s stocks could support exports for only five to seven days. A fourth said Saudi stocks at Egypt’s Ain Sukhna and Sidi Kerir ports could serve customers for several days.
Shipping faces further pressure from fighting in Yemen. The Associated Press reported on September 13 that government forces attacked Houthi positions along the Red Sea while the rebels fired into Saudi Arabia. AP said attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and Red Sea shipping were adding pressure to global supply and prices.
The restart date remains uncertain. One source told Reuters that repairs could take five to six weeks; another suggested a faster recovery, potentially with partial pumping during repairs. Reuters reported no immediate response from Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry or government media office. The ministry’s earlier statement promised updates as developments emerged.
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