--- title: "Houthi Threats to Red Sea Ports Force Saudi Arabia to Change Crude Oil Export Routes Again" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/296716425.md" description: "Due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation at the Yanbu port, Saudi Arabia was forced to activate a dual-track emergency response: oil tankers are either heading north around Africa or via the Suez Canal, more than doubling the voyage distance to over 17,000 miles; meanwhile, pickup arrangements in the Gulf of Oman have been offered to some buyers, and loading activities on the Persian Gulf side have significantly accelerated. Soaring transportation costs are putting pressure on Asian buyers, with at least one East Asian refiner considering abandoning cargo pickups, while European refiners have unexpectedly received their full September allocations" datetime: "2026-08-24T00:26:24.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/296716425.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296716425.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/296716425.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Houthi Threats to Red Sea Ports Force Saudi Arabia to Change Crude Oil Export Routes Again The continuous threat posed by Houthi forces to shipping in the Red Sea is forcing Saudi Arabia to restructure its global crude oil export system once again, further complicating an already strained global energy supply chain. According to CCTV International News, Yemen's Houthi armed group issued a statement on August 5 stating that since announcing a maritime shipping ban against Saudi Arabia on July 22, Houthi forces have cumulatively attacked eight Saudi oil tankers; another 29 Saudi tankers were forced to change course or return. The statement also noted that as Houthi forces strengthened their naval blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Saudi authorities began adjusting tanker routes to the northern Red Sea. Since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, **the Yanbu port on Saudi Arabia's west coast has remained a key alternative channel for global crude oil supply**. However, according to Bloomberg, after the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi ports in July, **the security situation at Yanbu port deteriorated sharply, with numerous tankers beginning to detour around Africa or head north via the Suez Canal, resulting in voyages exceeding 17,000 miles—more than double the normal route.** Meanwhile, **Saudi Arabia has begun offering pickup arrangements in the Gulf of Oman—outside the Strait of Hormuz—to certain buyers, and loading activities on the Persian Gulf side have significantly accelerated.** **These adjustments have significantly increased crude oil delivery costs, triggering a chain reaction among Asian buyers:** at least one East Asian refiner is considering abandoning next month's Saudi crude oil pickup due to additional costs, while several Asian refiners have rejected Saudi Aramco's request to pick up cargo at Yanbu, instead requesting loading at the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir in Egypt. In contrast, **European refiners have unexpectedly benefited, with multiple companies receiving their full September Saudi crude oil allocations.** ## Houthi Threats Spread, Yanbu Port in Distress The core of this logistics crisis is the persistent threat posed by Houthi forces to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—the narrow waterway at the southern exit of the Red Sea. Reports indicate that after the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi ports in July, large numbers of tankers originally loading crude at Yanbu shifted direction, choosing to travel north through the Suez Canal to the Egyptian Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir, before continuing to Asia or other destinations. For vessels bound for Asia, this means a full detour around Africa, with voyages exceeding 17,000 miles, more than doubling the distance of normal routes. However, **this alternative route itself presents significant bottlenecks.** The Suez Canal lacks sufficient depth to accommodate fully loaded Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs); although the Sumed Pipeline crossing Egypt can serve as a supplement, its capacity is insufficient to handle the entire volume of Saudi crude normally required by the Asian market, creating a dual logistical constraint. According to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, over the past month, ships belonging to South Korea's Sinokor Group, Greece's Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., and Norway's DHT Management AS have been frequently observed shuttling crude oil between Yanbu and Ain Sukhna, the southern entrance to the Sumed Pipeline. Additionally, six empty Saudi VLCCs bypassed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the end of the month and are now heading toward the western entrance of the Mediterranean via the west coast of Africa. ## Accelerated Activity on the Persian Gulf Side, Gulf of Oman Becomes New Delivery Point As the western corridor faces obstacles, Saudi Arabia is quietly activating another emergency arrangement—**shifting some crude oil delivery points to the Gulf of Oman, the waters outside the Strait of Hormuz.** Satellite imagery and vessel tracking data show a large gathering of Saudi tankers waiting in the Gulf of Oman, while **loading activities at ports on the Saudi Persian Gulf side have also increased significantly.** This suggests that **Saudi Arabia may be arranging for crude oil to depart from Persian Gulf ports, transferring it through straits near Oman or the UAE for offshore delivery.** This model has previously become a vital lifeline for the UAE and other Gulf oil-producing nations, with South Korea's Sinokor once again playing a key role. According to Bloomberg data, three of the four VLCCs that transported approximately 8 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Persian Gulf ports since August 11 belong to Sinokor. ## Asian Buyers Under Pressure, European Refiners Unexpectedly Benefit The rising costs associated with logistics restructuring are causing noticeable divergence among Asian buyers. Traders revealed that for the critical Asian market, Saudi Arabia's overall crude oil allocation remains far below pre-war levels with Iran, and total Saudi exports continue to lag behind pre-conflict volumes. **High transportation costs are leading some buyers to reassess their procurement plans—at least one East Asian refiner is considering abandoning next month's Saudi crude oil pickup due to extra expenses.** Nevertheless, energy security considerations are somewhat overriding cost concerns. Traders stated that Japanese and South Korean refiners are basically confirmed to pick up Saudi crude at Sidi Kerir next month, prioritizing energy security over cost pressures. In contrast to the difficulties faced by Asian buyers, European refiners have unexpectedly gained an advantage in this logistics restructuring. Over the past week, several European refiners have received notifications of their full September Saudi crude oil allocations, alleviating previous concerns caused by a roughly one-week delay in the supply nomination process. ### Related Stocks - [UCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/UCO.US.md) - [USO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/USO.US.md) - [BNO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BNO.US.md) - [SCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SCO.US.md) - [03097.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/03097.HK.md) - [03175.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/03175.HK.md) - [DHT.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DHT.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Venezuela hits roadblock in exporting more oil, as ports can't keep up with demand - report](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296690621.md) - [Refining Capacity Shock Keeps Fuel Supply Tight](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296634901.md) - [US weekly refiner inputs rose to highest in nearly seven years, EIA data shows](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296374066.md) - [Asia Distillates-Diesel cash premiums fall back to one-month low, more Sept sales underway](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296463157.md) - [Oil extends climb on prolonged Hormuz export uncertainty](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296302371.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**