Saudi Arabia resumes oil exports via East-West pipeline

Saudi Arabia has resumed oil exports through the main pipeline extending from the east to the west of the Kingdom.

According to Bloomberg, state-run Saudi Aramco was last week testing the East-West pipeline and building pressure, with the aim of resuming meaningful flows by the weekend, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named because the information is not public.

The resumption will restore Saudi Arabia’s access to the alternative export route that it had been using during the Iran war, even as the Kingdom has ramped up shipments through the Strait of Hormuz this month. It will bring relief to buyers who have been clamoring for supply, with some customers in Europe being told they won’t be allocated any barrels next month under term contracts.

Saudi authorities said on September 11 that drones launched from Iraq led to the temporary closure of the crucial route.