Saudi Aramco Offers Extra Crude to Asian Refiners

Saudi Aramco has been offering additional crude to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers off Sohar in Oman and through private negotiations off Fujairah in the UAE, covering Arab Light, Arab Medium, and Arab Heavy grades. The reported cargoes were for September loading.

the offers were used as a way to keep supplies moving to buyers outside the Strait of Hormuz following pipeline disruptions. One reported offer for the ship-to-ship cargoes off Sohar carried a fixed validity window, said to run until 5 pm Singapore time on 26 August 2026.

How Saudi crude allocations usually work

Under the standard monthly process, term buyers submit their requested loading volumes after Aramco announces its official selling prices at the start of each month. Saudi crude is typically sold to refiners on a free-on-board basis, meaning buyers arrange their own shipment.

Pricing has shifted notably in recent periods. Aramco's official selling price for Arab Light to Asia was cut to a six-year low in August 2026 to attract demand, while reported July-loading Asia prices were still set at premiums of $6 to $10 depending on grade and month.

For residents and businesses across the Kingdom, energy exports remain a core pillar of the wider economy. Flexible loading arrangements and alternative transfer points show how supply routes can be adapted to keep exports steady, supporting the reliability of the Kingdom's role as a major crude supplier to Asian markets.

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