Saudi Arabia Restores East-West Pipeline Flow to 5.8M BPD

Saudi Arabia has restored oil flows through its vital East-West Pipeline to 5.8 million barrels per day following a drone attack last month, providing an alternative export route during the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the milestone during a panel discussion at the GCC 2026 Forum in Manama, detailing how the energy infrastructure recovered after last month's strike.

"Not everyone knows that within five or six days, we began using the pipeline again after the major attack that struck it," said Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia, adding, "And, thank God, as of this morning we’re back up to 5.8 million barrels."

Pipeline Specifications and Capacity

Built in 1981, the 1,200km East-West Pipeline, also known as Petroline, possesses a maximum designed capacity of 7 million barrels per day. The transit system links major eastern crude fields directly to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, situated on the kingdom's western coast.

The rapid resumption of operations allows state-backed producers to reroute approximately 4 million barrels per day (representing about 4% of total global supply) away from traditional Persian Gulf shipping lanes. This operational flexibility shields key export volumes from regional shipping bottlenecks.

Bypassing the Strait of Hormuz

The restored throughput on the Petroline system serves as a primary relief valve for international crude markets. The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely closed since the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran began in late February, cutting off a maritime chokepoint that normally handles a significant share of Middle Eastern petroleum exports.

By diverting barrels across the Arabian Peninsula to Yanbu, Saudi energy officials can load supertankers bound for European and North American markets directly from the Red Sea. This logistics workaround avoids the heightened security risks and insurance premiums currently plaguing commercial vessel transit through the lower Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

What Is at Stake for Global Supply

The return of 5.8 million barrels per day of transit capacity affects global energy balances as refiners scramble for alternative crude streams. With major maritime corridors remaining restricted, the structural capacity of overland pipelines dictates the physical availability of crude oil for consuming nations across the globe.