Saudi Arabia conceals its oil shipments to avoid attacks from Yemen: Report
Saudi Arabia is reportedly relying on confidentiality and alternative shipping routes to transport crude oil from its western coastline, as Yemeni retaliatory operations in the Red Sea have prevented the Riyadh regime from conducting normal maritime activities in the waterway.
The recent shift has impacted exports from the Yanbu port, as shipments of Saudi crude are increasingly being rerouted through the Suez Canal or Egypt’s Sumed pipeline at the Ain Sukhna port to mitigate the risk of strikes, according to a Reuters report.
George Morris, an analyst at Vortexa, stated that loading operations at Yanbu are currently taking place under heightened secrecy, with oil tankers deactivating their tracking systems to minimize the likelihood of being targeted.
Nohwaya Hin Su, an analyst at Kepler, reported that approximately 70% of loading activities along the western coast of Saudi Arabia have been suspended in recent weeks.
She further noted that all shipments from Yanbu that were loaded after July 23, which the report refers to as August 1, were transported by vessels lacking continuous Automatic Identification System (AIS) positioning coverage.
Data from maritime tracking companies reveals a significant decrease in the transportation of Saudi crude from its western coastline; however, analysts warn that these statistics may not accurately reflect a corresponding reduction in actual production.
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According to Vortexa data, reported flows decreased from 2.71 million barrels per day to 2.38 million barrels per day. In contrast, Kepler noted a more significant decline from 4.04 million barrels per day to 1.78 million barrels per day.
The differences observed between the two datasets underscore the challenges in accurately assessing the true extent of Saudi oil exports, particularly in light of attempts to obscure shipping activities.
The limited visibility of tankers suggests that tracking data could underestimate the quantity of crude oil being exported, particularly as vessels operate without uninterrupted AIS signals.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to turn to alternative routes in order to maintain exports has raised the expense of transporting Saudi crude oil by an estimated $5 to $9 per barrel, and has extended the travel time to Asian markets by approximately 30 days.
The extended routes and increased transportation costs exert additional pressure on Saudi exporters, especially as the nation vies with other leading oil producers for customers in Asia.
Dependence on alternative pathways underscores the strategic significance of the Red Sea for Saudi Arabia’s oil export framework, especially for shipments that begin at western coastal terminals.
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