Saudi Arabia cancels oil to Europe over East-West pipeline blast

Saudi Arabia has suspended a portion of its crude shipments to Europe after attacks disabled its key export pipeline to the Red Sea. Officials cited drone strikes as the immediate cause of the shutdown, prompting the suspension of some deliveries headed for European markets. The affected conduit is the East-West pipeline, a major route for moving oil toward Red Sea export terminals. The closure has interrupted established export flows and removed some expected cargoes from the market. Market observers described the decision as a rare intervention by the producer, and reports indicate the disruption triggered a sharp reaction among buyers. The sudden shortfall prompted importers to rush to secure alternative supplies to cover the lost shipments. The cancellations and pipeline outage underscore short-term vulnerabilities in global crude logistics. With buyers seeking replacements and uncertainty over when the pipeline will resume normal operations, market volatility and supply-chain adjustments are likely to continue while the situation is resolved.