State-owned Saudi Aramco has quietly restarted oil loadings from terminals inside the Strait of Hormuz, ending a weeks-long freeze triggered by attacks on its tanker fleet during an escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict in the most recent quarter. Shipping data and trade sources confirmed that the world’s top oil exporter loaded millions of barrels across mid-August, offering prompt supplies of Arab Medium and Arab Heavy grades to international buyers.
Tanker Operations Inside the Strait and Ship-to-Ship Sales
Between August 12 and 16, three very large crude carriers—named the Malaysia Prosperity, Algeria Prosperity, and Singapore Prosperity—each loaded 2 million barrels of crude from the Juaymah and Ras Tanura terminals according to shipping data from Vortexa and Kpler. The sailings marked the end of a three-week gap in activity at those specific Persian Gulf ports.
Building on these terminal operations, state oil company Saudi Aramco is offering cargoes on a so-called ship-to-ship basis from locations such as Sohar in the Gulf of Oman. Traders familiar with the transactions noted that marketing Arab Medium and Arab Heavy grades externally indicates the barrels originated from inside the Persian Gulf, mirroring logistics strategies previously deployed by the United Arab Emirates.
State energy marketers also approached Asian refiners with offers for spot heavy crude cargoes scheduled for loading via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Provisional tracking data suggests that as many as six additional very large crude carriers could load Saudi oil from inside the strait before the end of the month.
Logistical Hurdles and Red Sea Blockade Pressures
Despite the resumption of traffic inside the strait, broader export channels remain under severe strain. Saudi shipments face an ongoing blockade enforced by the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea. During earlier phases of the conflict, Aramco diverted its export routes westward to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
To compensate for Red Sea disruptions, the producer introduced alternative liftings from Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir. However, market uptake has proven sluggish. Analysts point out that the alternative route fails to match historical throughput volumes.
Kpler data indicates that Middle Eastern crude loadings destined for Asia via Sidi Kerir will reach approximately 670,000 barrels per day this month. While this marks an increase from zero during the preceding three months, it remains a fraction of the pre-blockade level of 4 million barrels per day previously exported through Yanbu.
Fleet Deployment and Supply Chain Relief
The return of heavy crude grades from the Persian Gulf offers a crucial cushion for global refining networks. Heavier crude streams yield higher volumes of residue fuel used for maritime bunkers, alongside secondary refinery outputs like diesel and gasoline.
In addition to relying on Sinokor-owned vessels, traders indicate the company may deploy its own fleet to lift cargoes from Ras Tanura. Shipping data monitored via LSEG showed seven very large crude carriers owned by Saudi operator Bahri floating near the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with two additional vessels steaming toward Fujairah.
What to Watch Next in Gulf Energy Flows
Market participants are monitoring whether the six provisional tanker loadings scheduled inside the strait for later this month proceed without disruption.
