Aramco Reroutes 60M Barrels via Sohar to Asia

Saudi Aramco has sold about 60 million barrels of crude oil from its Ras Tanura export terminal on the Gulf coast for September and October 2026 loadings, routing the cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz to buyers in Asia. The move is a commercial response to disruptions affecting exports on the westward route toward the Red Sea and Yanbu.

The crude is being loaded via ship-to-ship (STS) transfers near Oman's Port of Sohar, outside the Gulf, with cargoes destined mainly for refiners in China, South Korea, India, and Japan. The rerouting helps offset reduced Red Sea flows caused by damage and disruptions on the East–West pipeline.

Gulf exports lifted back up

Gulf-side exports from Ras Tanura and nearby terminals have been raised to an average of roughly 1.0–1.5 million barrels broadly matching or slightly exceeding August 2026 levels. Part of the increase has involved doubling daily loadings to around two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) equivalent to about 4 million barrels

Spot cargoes under this arrangement are targeted primarily at Asian refiners. European term customers are set to receive no Saudi crude from this stream in October 2026, reflecting the prioritization of Asian demand and the need to cover Red Sea shortfalls.

Why it matters for the community: the restored Gulf exports and the STS operations off Sohar have been linked to a cooling effect on global oil prices, as the additional barrels help partially replace lost Red Sea volumes. Stable energy flows and steadier prices support the wider economy that residents and businesses across the Kingdom depend on.

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