Saudi Aramco Set to Halt Crude Deliveries to Europe Next Month After Pipeline Attack

Saudi Aramco is set to allocate no crude oil to European buyers next month after a drone attack disrupted Saudi Arabia’s key, according to a Bloomberg report cited by Coin Bureau.

The interruption comes after Saudi Arabia shut the pipeline following the attack last week. Bloomberg reported that the line could partially restart within days, while a return to full operations could take as long as six weeks. Saudi Aramco has not publicly confirmed the reported decision to halt regular European deliveries.

European Buyers Face Disrupted Saudi Crude Supplies

European customers typically receive Saudi crude through regular term contracts that provide scheduled monthly deliveries. According to the Bloomberg report, those deliveries to European buyers will not take place next month.

The East-West pipeline is an important route for moving Saudi crude from the kingdom’s oil-producing regions to the Red Sea. Recent reporting by Reuters found that three pumping stations along the 1,200-kilometer pipeline were damaged in the drone attack, although the precise repair timetable remains uncertain. Industry sources cited by Reuters estimated that partial operations could resume sooner, while full repairs could require five to six weeks.

The disruption has already prompted European refiners to look for alternative sources. Poland’s Orlen has issued more than 10 tenders since Friday in an effort to secure replacement crude supplies, according to the Bloomberg report cited by Coin Bureau.

Orlen has also taken additional steps to replace disrupted Saudi volumes. Reuters reported that the Polish company purchased 16 additional crude cargoes from suppliers including Norway, Britain, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and countries in the Americas, with the additional volumes intended to support its refineries through October.

European Imports Highlight the Scale of the Disruption

The supply interruption affects a significant existing flow of Saudi crude into Europe. European OECD countries imported 577,000 barrels of Saudi crude per day in June, according to data from the International Energy Agency cited in the original report.

European refiners commonly receive Saudi crude through routes involving the Red Sea port of Yanbu and Egypt’s Sidi Kerir terminal. The East-West pipeline provides a route toward the Red Sea that avoids reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters reported that the pipeline had been carrying roughly 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day before the disruption, equivalent to about 4% to 5% of global oil supply.

Oil Market Watches Replacement Supplies

The interruption means European refiners must compete for alternative crude barrels while the Saudi pipeline remains impaired. The additional competition for replacement supplies has contributed to concerns over tighter physical oil availability.

However, the market response remains dependent on how quickly Saudi Arabia can restore pipeline operations and redirect exports through other routes. Reuters reported on September 18 that Aramco was planning increased Gulf exports through ship-to-ship transfers at Oman’s Sohar port during September and October, helping offset financial reduced shipments through Yanbu.

For now, the reported suspension of regular Saudi crude deliveries to European buyers remains unconfirmed directly by Aramco. The immediate focus is on the pipeline’s partial restart and whether full operations can be restored within the reported six-week timeframe.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.