Saudi Arabia sells nearly 100 million barrels of oil to Asia, assumes shipping risk after pipeline attack
Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers for October and November delivery, equivalent to roughly one day of global demand. The sale follows a September 10 attack on the East-West pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, which has not fully resumed operations. Saudi Aramco has unusually taken on shipping logistics and risk, delivering crude directly to customers in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. The move more than doubles Saudi oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz to Asia and provides a buffer for Asian refiners facing supply shortages from sanctions on Iran and political risks around Russian oil.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- The pipeline attack forced Saudi Arabia to reroute oil through the Strait of Hormuz, showing a major vulnerability in their export system.
- The shift from FOB to CIF terms means Saudi Arabia now bears shipping costs and risks, which is a permanent change in how oil is delivered to Asia.
- This sale does not increase total oil supply to Asia—it just reroutes barrels that were already destined there, while Europe loses access to Saudi crude.
- Geopolitical fear and sanctions are distorting energy markets, making buyers avoid Iranian and Russian oil and rely more on Saudi supplies.
Points of contention
- The Eastern Agent sees this as a strategic move building trust and multipolar cooperation, while the Western and Neutral Agents view it as a forced, vulnerable adaptation.
- The Western Agent argues the sale exposes the failure of the rules-based order and Saudi Arabia's brittle security, but the Eastern Agent blames US sanctions and military actions for creating the instability.
- The Western Agent insists democratic accountability and human rights matter in energy deals, while the Eastern and Neutral Agents say buyers only care about reliable supply, not governance.
- The Eastern Agent believes the CIF shift is a smart investment in long-term partnerships, but the Neutral Agent warns it locks Saudi Arabia into a permanent margin squeeze.
Blind spots
- All sides overlook how this reroute permanently shifts pricing power to Asian buyers, who will never return to paying their own shipping costs.
- The debate ignores the impact on smaller, non-Asian economies that also rely on Saudi oil but are squeezed out by this deal.
- No one addresses the long-term environmental cost of shipping more oil through a dangerous chokepoint instead of using a safer pipeline.
WorldAttention’s read
This 100 million barrel sale is not a sign of strength or a new world order—it's a forced workaround after a pipeline attack exposed Saudi Arabia's vulnerability. The shift to Saudi Arabia bearing shipping costs is a permanent change that will squeeze their profits for years, while Asia gets the same oil it always did and Europe loses supply. The debate got stuck on moral arguments about human rights and US hypocrisy, but the real story is about logistics and risk: a broken pipeline, a dangerous strait, and a costly patch that doesn't fix the underlying fragility of the global energy system.
Reporting timeline
Saudi Arabia ships 60 million barrels to Asia despite Red Sea and Hormuz blockades
Saudi Arabia has managed to export over 60 million barrels of crude oil to Asia in September and October despite severe disruptions to its two main export routes. The Red Sea's southern exit was blocked by Houthi seizure of Perim Island in early September, and a drone attack on the East-West pipeline damaged pump stations, halting operations at Yanbu port. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained due to US-Iran tensions. In response, Saudi Aramco suspended deliveries to European refineries and adopted a covert 'ant-like' transport method: small shuttle tankers, with transponders off, sneak out of the Persian Gulf at night and transfer oil to large tankers off Oman's coast. The company also absorbed transport risks to retain Asian customers, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea. The East-West pipeline has partially restarted, aiming for 4 million barrels per day, with full recovery expected in about six weeks. However, analysts note this is an emergency measure, as costs have risen and congestion at Sohar port is growing.
Saudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Asia, Aramco Handles Shipping
Saudi Arabia has sold approximately 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers, including China, India, Japan, and South Korea, for delivery in October and November. Saudi Aramco unusually arranged and covered shipping logistics to deliver the oil directly to clients. The move provides a critical buffer for Asian refiners facing supply shortages due to US sanctions on Iran and political risks associated with Russian oil. The sale was triggered by damage to Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, which forced more crude to be exported via the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline was attacked on September 10 and has not fully resumed operations. Traders estimate the sale will more than double Saudi oil flows through Hormuz to Asia. The arrangement reflects a shift in Persian Gulf oil trade since the US-Iran conflict, with sellers increasingly taking on transport risks as buyers avoid sending their own vessels. TotalEnergies, Vitol, Trafigura, and ADNOC have been involved in moving oil from the Gulf. Russia also cut its 2026 oil export forecast by 24 million tonnes to 98.5 million tonnes, according to Interfax. Brent crude rose 3.78% to $107 per barrel.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels to Asia, Aramco Handles Shipping Amid Pipeline Attack
Saudi Arabia has sold approximately 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers, including China, India, Japan, and South Korea, for delivery in October and November, according to Bloomberg. The state-owned Saudi Aramco unusually arranged shipping and logistics to deliver the oil directly to customers, shifting transport risk from buyers to sellers amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The sale was triggered by an attack on a Saudi pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, which has not fully resumed operations since September 10. The disruption forced Saudi Arabia to reroute more oil through the Strait of Hormuz, nearly doubling the flow to Asia. The move provides a buffer for Asian refineries facing supply shortages due to US sanctions on Iranian oil and political risks associated with Russian crude. Separately, Interfax reported that Russia cut its 2026 oil export forecast by 24 million tonnes to 98.5 million tonnes. Oil prices rose 3.78% to $107 per barrel on the news.
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Saudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Asia, Aramco Handles Shipping to China, India, Japan, South Korea
Saudi Arabia has sold approximately 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers, including China, India, Japan, and South Korea, for delivery in October and November, according to Bloomberg. Saudi Aramco unusually committed to handling logistics and shipping directly to clients. The move provides a critical buffer for Asian refiners facing supply shortages due to US sanctions on Iran and political risks around Russian oil. The direct trigger was damage to Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, which forced more crude to be exported via the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline was attacked on September 10 and has not fully resumed operations. The sale, equivalent to global daily demand, will more than double Saudi oil flows through Hormuz to Asia. The arrangement reflects a shift in Persian Gulf oil trade since the US-Iran conflict, with sellers increasingly taking on transport risks as buyers avoid sending their own tankers. Russia also cut its 2026 oil export forecast by 24 million tonnes to 98.5 million tonnes, per Interfax. Brent crude rose 3.78% to $107/barrel.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Asia, Offers Delivery Amid Shipping Crisis
Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers, with delivery scheduled for October and November, according to traders. The sales come as shipping costs through the Strait of Hormuz have skyrocketed due to heightened geopolitical risks, with supertanker rates reaching $1 million per day on September 11, compared to the normal $30,000-$50,000. In an unprecedented move, Saudi Aramco is taking on the logistics and shipping risks, delivering the oil directly to Asian refineries in India, Japan, and South Korea, shifting the transportation burden from buyers to sellers. The sales volume is equivalent to roughly one day of global oil demand. The article notes that alternative routes, including Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, are operating at reduced capacity, forcing continued reliance on Hormuz shipping. Rystad Energy's upstream research vice president Rahul Choudhary stated the market is in a 'very tight balance,' keeping oil prices near $100 per barrel. The seller-financed shipping reduces uncertainty for Asian refineries but adds costs to Saudi Aramco's balance sheet.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Asia with Shipping Included
Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers since last week, with deliveries concentrated in October and November. The sales, equivalent to roughly one day of global demand, will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially doubling Saudi flows to Asia via the strait. Buyers include refineries in India, Japan, and South Korea. A significant shift in transaction terms has occurred: Saudi Aramco is now offering delivered (CIF) terms, assuming responsibility for shipping, insurance, and war risk, rather than the traditional FOB (free on board) model where buyers arranged their own tankers. This change reflects increased war risk in the region. Rystad Energy estimates that 6-7 million barrels per day still transit the southern Hormuz route, with another 2 million via UAE pipelines, down from a pre-crisis 15 million bpd. Tanker rates spiked to $1 million per day on September 11, making shipping costs about $26 per barrel, or 25% of the oil price, versus the normal 1-3%. The East-West pipeline connecting eastern fields to the Red Sea is restarting but not yet fully operational, limiting alternatives to Hormuz. Rystad Energy's Rahul Choudhary noted the market is in a very tight balance, keeping oil around $100 per barrel.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels of Crude to Ease Asia Oil Crunch
According to anonymous traders, Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers since mid-last week, helping to alleviate an imminent oil supply shortage in Asia. The cargoes, for delivery in October and November, will be transported via the Strait of Hormuz to buyers including refiners in India, Japan, and South Korea. The massive sale volume is roughly equivalent to one day of global oil demand, and Saudi shipments via the Strait of Hormuz to Asia have more than doubled from recent levels. The Saudi East-West pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz and delivers crude to the Red Sea, was attacked on September 10 and has not yet fully resumed operations. Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of restarting the pipeline, aiming for substantial recovery by Saturday. The pipeline outage has forced Saudi Arabia to increase crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz, with satellite data showing a sharp rise in crude loading in the Persian Gulf over the weekend. Traders noted that a key factor is Saudi Aramco taking responsibility for shipping logistics, delivering crude directly to Asian customers. Saudi Aramco declined to comment. Asian markets are expected to welcome the crude, as Indian refineries had considered reducing operating rates due to surging oil prices. The supply crunch has been worsened by the disruption of Iranian crude exports due to US sanctions and buyers avoiding Russian crude due to rising political risks, intensifying competition for African and Latin American crude grades. The responsibility for crude transport has gradually shifted from buyers to sellers since the US-Iran conflict. Gulf producers traditionally sold crude on a free-on-board basis, requiring customers to arrange shipping, but refiners are now reluctant to send their own vessels due to attack risks. Iraqi state oil marketer SOMO and other sellers without independent shipping capabilities rely on traders and intermediaries for transport. TotalEnergies, Vitol Group, Trafigura Group, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have all participated in shipping crude from the Persian Gulf.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells Nearly 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Asia, Easing Supply Crunch
According to traders cited by Jin10 on September 24, Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of oil to Asian buyers since last week, helping to avert an imminent supply shortage in the region. The crude, for delivery in October and November, will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Buyers include refiners in China, India, Japan, and South Korea. This unusual sales surge is equivalent to roughly one day of global oil demand and has more than doubled the recent flow of Saudi oil through the Strait of Hormuz to Asia. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline has not yet fully resumed operations after an attack on September 10. Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of restarting the pipeline, aiming for substantial recovery by Saturday.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells 100 Million Barrels of Oil to Ease Asia Supply Crunch
Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of oil to Asian buyers since last weekend, according to traders familiar with the matter, helping to avert an imminent supply shortage in the region. The crude, for delivery in October and November, will be shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Buyers include Chinese state-owned and independent refineries, as well as processors in India, Japan, and South Korea. This surge in sales, equivalent to about one day of global oil demand, will more than double Saudi flows to Asia via the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows an attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline on September 10, which bypasses the strait to the Red Sea and has not fully resumed operations. Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of restarting the pipeline, aiming for substantial recovery by Saturday. The pipeline issue has forced Saudi Arabia to export more oil through the strait, with satellite data showing a surge in loadings in the Persian Gulf. Aramco has offered to manage logistics and deliver crude to Asian customers, traders said. The oil is welcome as Chinese and Indian refineries consider reducing runs due to high oil prices, and as buyers avoid Iranian and Russian crude due to sanctions and political risks.
Read sourceSaudi Arabia Sells 100 Million Barrels of Crude Oil to Ease Asia Supply Shortage
According to a report from Caixin (财联社) on September 24, Saudi Arabia has sold nearly 100 million barrels of crude oil to Asian buyers since mid-last week, helping to avert an impending supply shortage in the region. The oil will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz to buyers including refineries in India, Japan, and South Korea. The sale comes after the Saudi East-West Pipeline was attacked on September 10 and has not yet fully resumed operations. Saudi Aramco has taken responsibility for logistics, delivering the crude oil directly to Asian customers.