Saudi Arabia Ramps Up East-West Pipeline Flow to Over 80% Capacity

Saudi Arabia has significantly increased crude oil flows through its critical East-West pipeline to more than 80% of its total capacity, a strategic move to enhance its west-coast supply amid escalating regional tensions, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the matter.

Increased Flows Boost Export Capacity

State energy giant Saudi Aramco is now pumping approximately 6 million barrels per day (bpd) through the pipeline, which has a maximum capacity of 7 million bpd. This represents a sharp increase from earlier in the week when the conduit was reportedly operating at nearly half capacity.

After accounting for domestic processing requirements on the Red Sea coast, this increased flow makes around 4.5 million bpd available for export from the kingdom's western terminals. This volume marks a wartime high for the route, underscoring the kingdom's flexibility in navigating regional supply chain disruptions.

Bypassing a Critical Chokepoint

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The East-West pipeline is a crucial piece of infrastructure that allows Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime chokepoint exposed to heightened conflict risks. The pipeline's importance was highlighted last month when it was temporarily shut down following projectile strikes launched from Iraq, forcing Riyadh to redirect large volumes of oil through the Strait to meet its global commitments.

Market Impact

The recovery of high-volume shipments from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, alongside sustained exports from the Persian Gulf, is reportedly pushing overall Middle Eastern crude exports toward pre-war levels. Analysts suggest this influx of supply has exerted downward pressure on international oil prices, contributing to Brent crude falling below $100 a barrel on Friday. Energy traders continue to balance this supply recovery against the risk of further geopolitical escalations in the region.