Saudi Aramco has increased the use of a major oil pipeline to bypass the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupts shipping routes and threatens global energy supplies.
The company’s chief executive, Amin Nasser, said the pipeline is expected to reach a capacity of seven million barrels of crude oil per day within days. The 750-mile pipeline runs from the oil fields of Abqaiq in eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
The move comes after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to escalating fighting involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which has triggered a severe global energy crisis.
Strategic Alternative Route
Analysts say the East–West pipeline, built about four decades ago, has become a crucial alternative route for oil exports from the Gulf region. By transporting crude oil to the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia can ship energy supplies to global markets without relying on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil chokepoints.
Energy expert Jim Krane of Rice University said the pipeline could provide temporary relief for the global economy, which has been shaken by the disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, he noted that the pipeline is only a short-term solution and cannot fully compensate for the scale of energy exports normally transported through the strait.
Capacity and Supply Challenges
Experts warn that the alternative route has limitations. Saudi Arabia exported roughly 6.3 million barrels of crude oil and 1.4 million barrels of refined petroleum products per day last year, but the export capacity of the Yanbu port is about 4.5 million barrels of crude oil per day.
In addition, the crisis has created shortages not only of crude oil but also of refined fuels such as diesel and jet fuel, increasing pressure on global energy markets.
New Security Risks
Shipping oil through the Red Sea also presents new security concerns. Tankers leaving Yanbu for Asian markets must pass through the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway near Yemen.
Security analysts warn that the strait is within range of drone attacks by Houthi movement rebels. According to analyst Greg Priddy of the Center for the National Interest, if the Houthis fully enter the conflict, the global energy market could face even greater instability.
With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz cutting off more than 15 million barrels of oil and fuel shipments per day, global crude prices—especially Brent crude oil—have shown sharp fluctuations, reflecting growing uncertainty in the international energy market.
