Saudi oil exports to reach their second-highest level since outbreak of Iran-US war

RIYADH — Saudi oil exports are on course to record their second-highest monthly level since the outbreak of the Iran-US War in late February 2026, according to data from Kpler, a company specializing in tracking shipments and commodities. The data showed that the Kingdom's average oil exports reached 5.55 million barrels per day (bpd) from October 1 to 15, compared with 7.16 million bpd in September, which marked the highest monthly level since the war began. Average exports in February stood at 7.33 million bpd, the highest level recorded since the beginning of the year.According to Kpler data, exports through the Ras Tanura port on the Arabian Gulf averaged 2.98 million bpd during the first half of October, down from 4.16 million bpd in September. Meanwhile, the Yanbu port on the Red Sea recorded average exports of 2.34 million bpd, compared with 2.54 million bpd during the same period, while other unspecified loading ports accounted for an additional 229,000 bpd. The data highlighted Saudi Aramco's flexibility in managing oil export routes and redirecting shipments between the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea by leveraging the East-West pipeline, which connects the Eastern Province to the port of Yanbu. Exports through Ras Tanura came to a complete halt in April and May, prompting Yanbu to handle all Saudi oil shipments. Exports through Yanbu peaked in June at 4.29 million bpd, accounting for approximately 93 percent of total exports, compared with 815,000 bpd in February. Aramco resumed ramping up exports through Ras Tanura after the East-West pipeline was targeted by drones launched from Iraq last September. During that month, exports through Ras Tanura nearly doubled those through Yanbu, the data showed.