After a hiatus, Saudi Arabia's key oil terminal reopened
Saudi Arabia has resumed operations at its main oil port, Ras Tanura, after a hiatus of nearly four months. As a result, large-scale shipments of crude oil to world markets have resumed. This decision may gradually restore stability to global energy logistics.
Saudi Arabia has reopened one of the world’s most important energy hubs—the port of Ras Tanura—where crude oil loading has resumed after several months of downtime. This marks the resumption of operations on a key export route that plays a critical role in supplying oil to global markets.
Reuters reported on the resumption, citing data from shipping and monitoring systems. According to analysts, the first large tankers have already begun loading at the terminal, signaling the actual restart of export operations. The port in question is Ras Tanura, located on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia and considered the world’s largest oil terminal. Prior to the shutdown, a significant portion of the country’s exports—exceeding 5 million barrels per day—passed through this terminal.
Currently, supertankers operated by Bahri are being used for loading, each capable of carrying up to 2 million barrels of oil. Another vessel is waiting nearby, preparing for loading.
Saudi Aramco, the owner of the country’s main oil export route, has effectively resumed exports following a forced hiatus. The company had previously been forced to reroute shipments via other routes, including through the Red Sea, due to security risks in the region. Analytical data from the LSEG platform shows that the last shipments from Ras Tanura to China took place in early March, after which exports effectively came to a halt.
The terminal is of strategic importance not only for Saudi Arabia but also for the global market, as it is located near the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most sensitive maritime routes. Experts view the resumption of its operations as an important step toward stabilizing global oil supplies, according to Reuters.
See also: Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices for Asia amid market shifts — Reuters
As a reminder, amid the escalating situation in the Middle East, the discount on Russian Urals crude began to rise for the first time in recent months. However, experts say that high oil prices will not save the Russian economy from a slowdown.
The price of Russian Urals crude at Indian ports jumped to a record $121.65 per barrel.
