Saudi Arabia has cut oil shipments to Europe after drone attacks damaged its key export pipeline to the Red Sea. The attacks forced the kingdom to shut its East-West desert oil pipeline, which has spared it from the worst of the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz over the last six months.
Impact on Oil Prices
Oil trading and shipping sources said that Saudi Arabia had informed European customers that some September-loading crude cargoes will be canceled and oil loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu had been suspended. The supply disruption supported oil prices, with Brent oil futures trading near $108 a barrel and cargo prices in Europe's physical market even higher.
Polish integrated oil firm Orlen is rushing to find crude oil cargoes from the North Sea and further afield to replace disrupted Saudi imports. Orlen purchased several cargoes of crude oil in spot tenders on Friday and Monday, and issued another tender on Tuesday to buy North Sea or Algerian crude for October delivery and Guyanese crude for November delivery.
As Editor in Chief of The Maritime, I lead content development, interviews, and digital storytelling across our multimedia maritime platform. With over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry, I create and publish in-depth stories and video features that highlight key players, emerging trends, and operational realities across global shipping. Before launching The Maritime, I worked as a Vessel Operator at Imza Marine A.S., gaining hands-on commercial shipping and voyage operations experience. I also served as Marketing Communications Specialist at Gimas Ship Supply & Services, where I managed corporate communication, digital strategy, and industry outreach for shipowners and maritime clients. I hold a Master’s degree in Maritime Transportation Management from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Marmara University. My work is driven by the belief that the maritime world deserves strong, informed, and accessible media representation. I am committed to sharing the stories of maritime professionals and contributing to the sector’s visibility, knowledge exchange, and future development.
