Six VLCCs set record loading at Saudi Ras Tanura amid pipeline disruption
Six very large crude carriers loaded almost 12 million barrels at Ras Tanura and Juaymah on 21 September, the busiest day since before the war, after the East-West pipeline was disrupted.
According to Kpler, six very large crude carriers together loaded nearly 12 million barrels of oil at Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura and Juaymah terminals on 21 September, the busiest single-day loading recorded since before the war. The increase followed a disruption to the kingdom's East-West pipeline, which usually moves crude overland to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts observed that some of the vessels involved had been identified in the past six weeks for dark ship-to-ship transfers or atypical port calls, suggesting the recent loading surge is part of a longer-term change in vessel behaviour.
The rapid adaptation highlights how Saudi crude flows are being rerouted under pressure. Kpler's data underscores the growing reliance on tankers to compensate for pipeline constraints. This pattern may have implications for global oil logistics and market dynamics.
Why it matters
The record loading shows Saudi oil is quickly shifting to tanker routes, affecting global supply chains and market stability.
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