Saudi Red Sea Crude Exports Go Dark Amidst Houthi Attacks
Satellite images show fewer tankers at Saudi terminals as Houthi threats push more vessels to stop transmitting position signals.
- Tankers carrying Saudi crude are increasingly operating 'dark' by disabling tracking signals to avoid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, complicating efforts to monitor the kingdom's oil exports.
- The Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, prompting a nearly 90% drop in exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu during the week of August 3.
- At Egypt's Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir, loadings averaged a record 2.17 million bpd last week, around 50% higher than the previous week, with about 90% of volumes Saudi crude.
- Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser cited alternatives like the Sumed pipeline, yet Kpler director Matt Smith warned this is causing a "domino effect" in global crude flows.
- Analysts now rely on satellite imagery to track shipments, as Smith described the shift toward dark voyages as a "distinct change in strategy" that will persist as a new trend.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The Hormuz model moves to the Red Sea – and Yemen's Houthis determine its rules
The Houthis are attacking ships sailing through the Red Sea as part of the implementation of the blockade on Saudi Arabia. This is an integrated war in which Iranian interests are linked with Houthi ones, but one in which the Houthis determine priorities
Saudi Arabia Bets Everything on Restraint
In 35 years at the helm of the Saudi Maritime Company, the kingdom's oldest shipping firm, Syed Ahmed thought he had weathered every storm the Middle East could throw at him: the Gulf wars, Somali piracy, a container ship blocking the Suez Canal in 2021 and, more recently, the Houthi campaign against Israel-linked shipping. The latest regional war, sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, even proved initially good for business. …
Saudi Arabia cuts oil exports over threat of Houthi attacks Saudi Arabia is cutting oil exports via the Red Sea, with tankers turning off tracking systems, as oil shipments via Egypt surge, with volumes hitting a record 2.17 million barrels per day.
Saudi oil exports ‘go dark’ amid Houthi threat
Saudi crude exports from the Red Sea are increasingly vanishing from view as tankers switch off tracking signals to avoid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, with analysts saying all recent Yanbu loadings have been conducted "dark".
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left, 38% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
