Aramco Restores East-West Pipeline as War Risk Closes In on Yanbu

Saudi Aramco has resumed pumping on its East-West pipeline, known as the Petroline, less than two weeks after attacks knocked the system out of service. Operations restarted at reduced rates, with Aramco reportedly aiming to rebuild flows toward roughly 4 million barrels per day as temporary measures are used while permanent repairs proceed.

Satellite imagery and commercial trackers indicate tanker loading activity at the Red Sea export terminal Yanbu has begun again this week, though the company has not returned to its prior regular export cadence. Industrial Info Resources cited images showing vessels taking on crude, and Reuters reported that Aramco told some European refiners it needed to accumulate a "critical mass" of crude at Yanbu before resuming normal shipments.

Kpler data cited in reporting showed the pipeline had been moving about 5.5 million bpd before the September attack, including roughly 4.5 million bpd destined for export from Yanbu. Two tankers that had been scheduled to load on September 23 did not do so, while another six were scheduled to load between September 24 and 27, according to the same sources.

Assessments of the physical damage indicate the pipeline itself suffered limited harm, while pumping infrastructure took the brunt of the impact. At least one pumping station was reported to be extensively damaged; Aramco has been installing a temporary bypass to restore flow pending permanent repairs. Kpler had initially estimated the timeline for complete repairs at four to six weeks because replacement pumping equipment would be required.

The restart comes amid a wider disruption to crude flows around the Strait of Hormuz linked to the ongoing war, with the Petroline having carried the bulk of Saudi exports around that chokepoint prior to the attack. Restored pumping at reduced rates and the gradual rebuilding of crude stocks at Yanbu will determine how quickly export patterns return to their pre-attack state.