Photo caption: Satellite imagery shows repairs and bypass construction of the Saudi Arabia East-West pipeline days after damage following a drone attack, near Al Dhekra, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia, September 22, 2026. Vantor/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
Saudi Arabia is building up crude pumping volumes through its East-West Pipeline that runs to its Red Sea export hub of Yanbu, although crude tanker loadings have yet to resume, according to industry sources, satellite imagery and shipping data.
Saudi Arabia resumed operations on the pipeline this week after a drone attack shut the facility earlier this month, adding to hopes of an increase in oil flows from the Middle East disrupted by the US-Iran war. The latest comments and data suggest slower progress in resuming shipments, given that loading had been scheduled for Tuesday.
Crude is heading through the pipeline into Saudi Arabia’s refineries on the Red Sea coast, an industry source said, although crude loading has yet to resume into tankers. Two other sources also said tanker loading has yet to resume.
State oil giant Saudi Aramco did not immediately reply to a request for comment
