Saudi Arabia’s energy minister stated that the country’s East-West Pipeline has resumed operations at a capacity of 5.8 million barrels per day, as reported during remarks at a regional forum in Bahrain earlier this week. The pipeline had been temporarily shut in early September following drone strikes attributed to Iraqi militia groups, but the minister indicated that operations were restored within five to six days of the attack.
The 1,200-kilometer pipeline connects Saudi Arabia’s major oil-producing regions in the eastern part of the country to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This route has become increasingly significant as the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint, has experienced significant disruptions since late February. The pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to bypass this congested waterway and transport approximately 4 million barrels daily, representing roughly 4 percent of global oil supply.
The East-West Pipeline, also referred to as the Petroline, has been operational since 1981 and carries a maximum designed capacity of 7 million barrels per day. Recent months had seen notably reduced throughput, with flows declining to approximately 2 million barrels daily in August—marking the lowest monthly volume since January. These reductions were attributed to security challenges in the Red Sea region, where attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group have complicated maritime transportation routes.
The recent restoration of pipeline operations to near-maximum capacity represents a significant development for global oil markets, particularly given ongoing regional instability affecting traditional shipping routes in the Persian Gulf region.
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